Years ago well ceremonies are taking place at locations across the city throughout the day it was exactly 30 years ago on the night of november 989 that east germanys communist regime surprised the world by lifting all travel restrictions on east german citizens the move allowed ordinary people to cross freely to the west for the 1st time since the wall was built in 1961 it enabled friends and family to reunite after being separated for decades and it paved the way fluent german reunification just a year later. Well the w. Will be covering events throughout the day taking us through this mornings activities r. T. W. Thomas aspira the berlin wall memorial here in the capital and in the studio im joined by john beric great to see you both thomas id like to start with you then because tell us what is in store where you are. We are right here as you said in the wall memorial in the center of. The wall divided this city you can probably see part of the memorial behind me on a such this was
Postwall history. Washington journal is next. East berlin tonight, tens of thousands of people crossing into west berlin, pouring through the berlin wall, which opened today. Not waiting for officials or even daybreak, they are still coming. Host those are the words and images that nbc used to open its special report on the night of november 9, 19 89. 30 years later, we are remembering that earth and concrete shattering day. Gallery,he berlin wall from the newseum and washington, d. C. It is our home for the next three hours on washington journal on cspan and cspan3. Were asking you to share your own memories. Give us a call and let us know fall meantrlin wall to you. If you live in eastern or central time zones, the number to call is 202 7488000. Mountain or pacific time zones, 202 7488001. At a special phone number for germanamericans this morning that number 202 7488002. If you want to send us a text this morning, that number is 202 7488003. If you do, please include your name and w
East germany into west germany. Almostppened was until 1989, the news for the east germans was tightened more and more. Wethe 1950s and 1960s could send clothing and packages to east germany for the people because they did not have very much. Eventually we had to send new clothing. I sent american dollars when i came to this country in carbon paper to east germany so the woman could buy some groceries. I experience the hungarian revolution. That berlin or east germany would become free. I have a person in east germany that i called and he was very drunk because he never thought the wall would come down. I never thought it did. I cried and cried and cried. I had visited east germany in 1959 with [speaking german]. E traveled to various cities the people that housed us, that gave us meals, they were so thrilled, and i dont know how they afforded food in 1959. To feed us. And the best menus restaurants you could go to. For me, germany was united. , but born in east russia. O me, germany u
He wanted to tear down the wall we couldnt believe it. A life spent in opposition to the berlin wall limping back german rock legend painter and vocal critic of the division of german. Live we caught up with him in life city where the peaceful revolution against the east german regime began. Leipzig is also hosting an exhibition devoted to winton bags of art and his commitment to the people of east germany. Things. Im in leipzig of the museum of thought you know its for a very special exhibition special because of the artist who is right here because hes actually better known as the legend of german rock music and i dont use that word legend lightly because this man has the strode to the german rock scene for nearly 50 yes 50 years linda welcome thank you the italians had an. Absolutely im my 1st question is he in your 8th decade playing 2 stadium yeah the biggest audiences ever. Did you know they all love you know the people close to all show you know to carry this through the shoot 3
Discovered. The i. Subscribe to a documentary on too. Long ago this week well stories. Questions about house and iconic but in dancehall why libyan caps are living nightmare for migrants but we begin in prague in 1909 for thousands of east german so refuge in the west German Embassy that they were finally allowed to travel to the west it was the beginning of the end of east germany. The for. A journey back in time. 30 years ago hill much sunder was traveling in a train just like this one. Its like reliving it all over again. Back then sunder was one of thousands of refugees fleeing east germany they travelled in special trains from prague to the west but to get there they had to pass through east german territory where they feared theyd be arrested. In order to keep memories of those journeys alive some of the people who made those trips then doing it again. They all left east germany that way. After several tense weeks in the west German Embassy in prague. In september 1989 east germa