30 years

[Ninjachica]

30 years ago, I sat watching the tv, crying my eyes out, as the Berlin Wall came down.

I couldn’t believe what I was watching.
My family had been split apart by that wall, and (relatively) peaceful protest had somehow bought it to an end.

It has left its mark on many. My 2 brothers are so different, each being raised on opposite sides of that wall.

I don’t normally do politics, because I agree that everyone has a right to a different point of view. But I know what democracy means.

My German roots are strong today.
My tears are for what could have been, and should have been.

[Piglet]

I know people who were stationed in West Berlin in 1961 who would have been willing and able* to blow up the wall if the order had just been given.

*But not with the SADMs they had, due to "collateral damage".

[Beelady]

I was listening to a program about it on the radio last night. I hadn't realised before quite how many lost opportunities people had. It was pretty awful hearing about it from the point of view of those affected by it. Of course I remember seeing the wall come down and the celebrations but never really knew any of the history behind it all.
I'm often surprised by how little recent history I was taught at school. We jumped from the Romans to the Russian Royal family. Nothing else at all. I am quite ashamed at how little I know but I'm quite useful in pub quizzes. So much for the education system in the 60's.

[CantCorner]

Making me feel old now , but back then I was based in Sennelager near Paderborn when the wall came down . Being 200 miles away from Berlin , we never saw how life was affected between East and West . To us uneducated squaddies , it signified the end of the Cold War and we weren't going to get nuked .

[Ninjachica]

I love paderborn. Beautiful place.
My son-in-law was stationed there for a while. I loved to go and visit them.
(Prior to that, they were in Bergen-Belsen... if you ever need a reminder of how evil people can be)

I keep looking at flights to Paderborn for the Christmas markets, but it is a logistical nightmare! Maybe next year.

[bobsnicholson]

Evil people. Did Auschwitz and Berkinow (scuse the spelling) a few years ago. I still maintain the schools should take all 10/11/12 year old's to both.
Of course us Brit's never committed any atrocity's in the wars did we (i know not to that degree).

[Piglet]

Evil people. Did Auschwitz and Berkinow (scuse the spelling) a few years ago. I still maintain the schools should take all 10/11/12 year old's to both.
Of course us Brit's never committed any atrocity's in the wars did we (i know not to that degree).

The total death figure from the International Committee of the Red Cross is, um interesting. Take if for what you will.

Watch this.
https://youtu.be/RnenGW_21Mo

First 2/3 of the above if it is blocked.
https://youtu.be/MwKArlNawJE
https://youtu.be/GOIlgn15h34

Goodrich commits the "crime" of using original sources instead of relying on what previous "historians" have written.

[bobsnicholson]

Will watch when i get home.

[Ninjachica]

I went to Buchenwald in the early 70’s. (GDR times) I will never forget what I saw.

I took my daughter to Belsen 6 years ago. Still eerie, and terribly sad, but totally sanitised. I understand why people want to dismiss it.