When the Berlin Wall came down
Celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall some decades ago. Read More
On my way home from work on Nov. 9, I bought a German newspaper to remember my experiences as an East German teenager and to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall some two decades ago.
I read the records of contemporaries, of an East German border policeman who struggled to make the right decision, of curious Berliners who were pulled along in the current of events with hundreds of Trabi cars heading for the other side of the separated city. I read of a reporter’s fateful question and one of the most consequential and most glorious errors, or premature announcements, at a press conference ever: “As far as I know … yes, starting immediately … it is possible for them to go through the border.”
Many have asked me where I was on that evening, 20 years ago, and what I felt. For the longest time I couldn’t remember anything in particular, and then I recalled why. We thought it was a trick of the communist regime. We were waiting it out in our little village in Southeast Germany, dreading the tanks that were standing by.
But then, a week later, my dad packed us four kids in the Trabi car and we hit the concrete Autobahn for Berlin. Emotions well up with the memories — standing in front of a shopping mall in the first snow, blinded by the thousands of Christmas stars that seemed to fill the cold dark sky.
I remember thinking, “So it is true, after all.” Not long before that, I had stood in the kitchen with my dad and counted the years until I turned 18 so I could at least apply for a visa to check out if golden West Germany was just a fairy tale. Working in a factory in East Germany’s retarded textile industry was not exactly my dream, but about the only outlook. I had grown up learning that you better keep your dreams of the big wide world to yourself.
Now I was there. I wasn’t bitter about the years spent in the confinement of the Eastern Bloc. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the glittering of capitalism. I was just utterly pleased to find that even the faintest hope was rewarded with such wonderful reality. I remember us children with our fashionable East German plastic glasses standing at the counter that was supposed to present us with our “welcome money” from the West German government and had just closed down, and dad explaining what a long way we had come. We each walked out like Bill Gates with our DM100 bill. I also remember how some of us, under the wise investment counsel of dad, took our first real money and put it in the offering for orphans in Bethlehem at the church around the corner, with the exhilarating joy of being able to make a difference somewhere.
I remember how we stopped at a gas station on the way and I, thrilled by the splendid choice, made my first Western purchase — a deodorant. Not until weeks later when it was almost empty did I realize it was a gentleman’s fragrance. East Germany wasn’t very good at fragrances.
I remember how hot and tasty the hot chocolate in the plastic cup was that the Salvation Army was passing out to the strangers in the street.
What a Thanksgiving.
I just opened a bottle of Rottkäppchen sparkling wine that had been waiting for the
right moment, and I toasted to the god of history.
Celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall some decades ago. Read More
Strolling across Christmas markets in Germany, shoppers will find unique wooden items and other figures.Read More
Glühwein Recipe Ingredients: • 0,75 l red wine • 10 cubes of sugar • 2 oranges • 2 cinnamon sticks • 20 cloves Directions: Combine wine and sugar in a pot to heat, but do not boil the wine. Stick cloves into one half of the oranges (this way youRead More
Several local tree farms allow patrons to select and cut their own Christmas tree: Tannengrün Schaible Herterstraße 7, 71254 Ditzingen Phone: 0170-7720933 E-mail: Tannengruen-Schaible@gmx.de. Weihnachtsbäume Markus Silcher Heckbachstr. 7, 71404 Korb-Kleinheppach Phone: 07151-606758 or 0170-868-8901 Zabergäu-Tanne Bernhard Schmoll Nordhausener Str. 34, 74336 Brackenheim-Hausen Phone: 07135-6468 or 0173-8712016 E-mail: kb.schmoll@gmx.de.Read More
Only one thing could make 40 teenage boys run bases, catch grounders
and practice their swing during a cold, wet November weekend in
Stuttgart, Germany: the love of the game.
And the yells of encouragement from five college baseball coaches from the United States.Read More
The Department of the Army has required that all units and agencies
have 100 percent accountability on casualty processing forms by Dec.
31.
The Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operation Center now uses the
Interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System to view a
Soldier’s DD Form 93 and Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Election
and Certificate for all casualty notification cases, to include Very
Serious Injury and Serious Injury.
Read More
Gas privileges extended to more government personnel, vehicles
MANNHEIM, Germany — The final arrangement governing use of the fuel
ration card for U.S. servicemembers and eligible civilian employees in
Germany is now in effect, U.S. Army Europe Office of the Provost
Marshal officials announced.Read More
On behalf of the U.S. European Command Headquarters noncommissioned officers, EUCOM Headquarters Commandant Command Sgt. Major Delbert Hoskins presents Fleet Master Chief Roy M. Maddocks, representing the EUCOM Headquarters, with a plaque commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall Nov. 20 during a ceremony on PatchRead More
“DUI… it’s not worth it. Call a cab!” and “Choose your ride: Don’t Drink and Drive.”
These posters are located on every U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart
installation. What may not be so well-known is the impact they, along
with their creator, the garrison Army Substance Abuse Program, have on
the community.
Read More
The Stuttgart intramural soccer team defeated the top-seeded Grafenwoehr in Italy, Oct. 25, 2009.Read More
For more information on the “Trace of Remembrance” project, visit www.spur-der-erinnerung.de.Read More
In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, several key
leaders in U.S. Army Europe lauded disabled persons for their continued
perseverence with both working in and service to the armed forces.Read More
To help prepare for the increase in confirmed H1N1 influenza cases in
the Stuttgart military community, the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart
conducted a pandemic influenza table top exercise at the Swabian
Special Events Center Oct. 29.Read More
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