When the Berlin Wall came down (Page 266)

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.

When the Berlin Wall came down

Celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall some decades ago. Read More

History of the Nutcracker

Strolling across Christmas markets in Germany, shoppers will find unique wooden items and other figures.Read More

Make your own holiday treats

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

Pick your own Christmas tree

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

Stuttgart baseball clinic hosts college coaches from U.S.

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

Soldiers, civilians must complete casualty forms by Dec. 31

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

German, U.S. officials sign permanent fuel ration agreement

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

Fall of Berlin Wall 20th anniversary celebrated

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

Germany
Fuel Type	Per Gallon	Per Liter	+/-
Super E10	$3.557	$.0940	-
Super	$4.142	$1.194	-
Super Plus	$4.449	$1.189	-
Diesel	$3.881	$1.025	-

Czech Krone:	Kč 21.68
Egyptian Pound:	E£ 49.62
Hungarian Forint:	Hf 354.56
Israeli Shekel:	₪ 3.48
Polish Zloty:	zł 3.74
Turkish Lira:	₵ 39.151

When the Berlin Wall came down (Page 266)

When the Berlin Wall came down

History of the Nutcracker

Make your own holiday treats

Pick your own Christmas tree

Stuttgart baseball clinic hosts college coaches from U.S.

Soldiers, civilians must complete casualty forms by Dec. 31

German, U.S. officials sign permanent fuel ration agreement

Fall of Berlin Wall 20th anniversary celebrated

On The Street: What are you most thankful for?

Garrison ASAP named best in Army 2009

USAG Stuttgart intramural soccer team takes third in finals

‘Traces of Remembrance’ project trails across Europe

Gen. Ham challenges USAREUR community to employ disabled

Garrison, tenant units prepare for H1N1 scenarios

Local church musicians perform gospel ‘Extravaganza’

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When the Berlin Wall came down (Page 266)