Germany Marks the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Looking back over 20 years, what now seems inevitable, at the time seemed unthinkable. CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips reports that the Berlin Wall was the fault line between the world's communist east, and the free west.

Twenty years ago Monday, it came down, and a big party has been organized to celebrate the anniversary.

A new wall, erected to mark the occasion, will come down a lot easier. Huge foam dominos, decorated by German school children, have been set up where the Berlin Wall used to stand. They'll be knocked over 20 years, to the hour, after the real wall was finally breached.

Berlin Wall in Pictures

The spectacle has attracted large crowds; from the old, coming to recall that heady and shocking time twenty years ago, to some younger visitors who never even knew the wall, but who are getting a pretty good history lesson.

No one had planned what happened that night.

Crowds from East Berlin swarmed toward the wall when the then-East-German Government announced it was finally going to lift travel restrictions.

The numbers proved too great and their enthusiasm too strong for the East German Border guards, who had shot as many as 200 people attempting to escape over the years. The guards simply melted away, into the crowd.

The scenes that night were the beginning of the domino effect of communist governments falling across Eastern Europe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself born in the east, will welcome world leaders to Berlin on Monday to commemorate the event. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is representing the United States. Britain, France and Russia, the other former occupying powers, will be represented by their heads of government.

That one night, twenty years ago, changed Berlin, Germany and the entire world, forever.

[hdc77494]

WHERE WAS OBAMA?? Is the president of the US still considered the leader of the free world??

[eus109937]

I will never forget where I was and what I was watching on TV as the Berlin wall was falling. I may have been very young but understood that this could mean the fall of communism in Europe and the world. Fast forward to 2009 and just knowing that in my country, the great USA, communism is now quietly celebrated and certainly supported is a sad fact of our way of American life. If it wasn't for communism we wouldn?t have anything on the shelves of Home Depot, Target, Kmart, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc., etc., etc. For if these items were made in democratic or socialist countries the would cost at minimum 30% more. Our whole way of spending money would change as we would not have as much to spend. Just knowing that a communist county, China, is our #2 trading partner in the world is extremely saddening to my heart.

[rexrox2]

rafterman: The pope really put pressure on the Soviet Union?? The pope could get even one Kennedy from espousing abortion, I fail to see the power. For the record: Gorby became friendly with the west because the Soviet Union WAS FAILING. He was trying to SAVE it by advocating trade, cultural activities et al. Lucky for the 100's of millions of Europeans that Reagan didn't fall for it, and instead built up weapons and supplies. Reagan knew that if the Soviet Union couldn't get help from the West, they'd try and expand their empire to gain raw materials and cheap labor. Reagan was ready with the deterrant. Gorbachev was between a rock and a hard place. Speaking of Kennedys, Teddy and his ENTOURAGE, went to visit with Gorby just after Reagan was elected, and promised him a great relationship and economic assistance if he were elected President. Those Europeans are very fortunate that never came to pass. The Euros know this,,, it's an abosolute shame you and your ilk are so ignorant of these facts. What will it take for you to learn??

[rexrox2]

rafterman: The pope really put pressure on the Soviet Union?? The pope could get even one Kennedy from espousing abortion, I fail to see the power. For the record: Gorby became friendly with the west because the Soviet Union WAS FAILING. He was trying to SAVE it by advocating trade, cultural activities et al. Lucky for the 100's of millions of Europeans that Reagan didn't fall for it, and instead built up weapons and supplies. Reagan knew that if the Soviet Union couldn't get help from the West, they'd try and expand their empire to gain raw materials and cheap labor. Reagan was ready with the deterrant. Gorbachev was between a rock and a hard place. Speaking of Kennedys, Teddy and his ENTOURAGE, went to visit with Gorby just after Reagan was elected, and promised him a great relationship and economic assistance if he were elected President. Those Europeans are very fortunate that never came to pass. The Euros know this,,, it's an abosolute shame you and your ilk are so ignorant of these facts. What will it take for you to learn??

[Henri_Rochard]

I have a small piece of the Berlin Wall that a friend brought back after visiting Germany after the fall of the Wall. (At least she CLAIMS its from the Wall, in which case, kindly do not burst my bubble.)

Too bad the Leader of the Free World couldn't have attended the ceremony, i.e., Barak Obama. He must've been busy. Good thing, tough, that Truman and the Army Air Corps weren't too busy during the Berlin Air Lift.

There's a good song by the Scorpions "Winds of Change" that commemorates the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

And nice call there, Rafterman1, for pointing out Mikhail Gorbechev.

[cleric60]

Interestingly, a freedom movement consisting of the E.Germany's youth began a "freedom prayer demonstation" within many of the churches throughout E. Germany begining back in the mid-70's. I toured Martin Luther sites in E. Germany back in 1976-78, speaking to youth, who were openly praying for national freedom in their churches.

[cupcake65]

You're right cleric60 !!!The church was the ONLY place in East Germany to have freedom of speech!!!

[perceptions5]

Opinions and views from the American people:

"Eighty-four percent (84%) of voters also identified President Ronald Reagan as the man who famously declared, ?Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.?

Reagan?s challenge to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was issued on June 12, 1987, but it wasn?t until November 9, 1989, that the East German government announced that the border was open, effectively ?tearing down? the wall.

Celebrating Germans on both sides then began physically tearing down the barrier. The communist Soviet Union itself lasted only last two more years.

People from all across the political spectrum recognize the fall of the wall as important. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of conservatives view the events as Very Important, so do 59% of liberals.

Voters ages 18 to 29 are slightly less likely than their elders to view the collapse of communism and the fall of the Berlin Wall as Very Important. Younger adults are a bit less likely than their elders to identify Reagan as the source of the ?tear down the wall? quotation. Seventeen percent of that youngest group say the first President Bush made the statement."

........Isn't it interesting that liberals don't view this massive "freedom event" as important?

And liberal teachers of America......START teaching the "real" American history to our young children and adults. EVEN if it supports and promotes other ideologies........how sad.

The news and information is completely broke in Ameria today.....

[askagain]

rafterman1 Go ahead. Rewrite history. Enjoy until your heart is content.

[perceptions5]

Sadly not a word from America's liberal MSM wolfpack press on how/why the wall came down?

Here's the how/why:

That would be the greatest 20th century US President Ronald Reagan, Conservative PM Margret Thatcher, and John Paul II

........TOGETHER...it was THEY who brought freedom to over 1/2 billion people today without firing one shot.

Americans and people of the world need to remember THESE great Conservatives and religious leaders for the GOOD they performed.

And the elite self-righteous liberals and their close socialist pals in Europe worked AGAINST the Axis of Good.

I'll always remember the left-wing liberals protesting against Reagan in Euraope with signs that read "Better Red Then Dead".....how sad to willingly give up your freedoms.....

Thank GOD for Reagan, Thatcher, and John Paul II