Berlin Wall Controversy
On November 9, 1989 when East German citizens poured through border crossings in the Berlin Wall, the event marked a new beginning for East Europeans. Under strict control of the Soviet Union, life in Eastern Europe had been restricted, with little freedom and or luxury (Cernich). The unstoppable flow of East Germans fleeing to West Germany began the Soviet Union’s decline in power, and it floundered until dissolving on December 25 in 1990 (Montgomery). The Berlin Wall had separated countless families and friends on the West and East sides of Germany, and after they traveled through the wall they were finally reunited (Gorman). The fall of the Berlin Wall led to Germany unifying on October 3 in 1990 (Montgomery). When the Berlin Wall fell,
…show more content…
Perestroika, or “restructuring,” shifted the power in the Soviet Union to leaders in favor of more liberal political and economic reforms. Glasnost, or “openness,” let East Germans see what freedoms they were missing through uncensored media, and speak out with what their opinions were. The Sinatra Doctrine let countries control their own affairs as they pleased, many reforming vastly, while allowing Eastern Bloc citizens free travel throughout their Bloc and preventing military force from the Soviet Union from stepping in. With new important Communist Party officials supporting reforms, and countries allowed to make their own decisions, East Germans were given more rights, and had countries around them that practiced even more democratic ideas. The replacement of Erich Honecker gave East Germany a leader who was willing to implement reforms with freedom given to East Germans. With freedom to travel and hold demonstrations, East Germans pushed the government to allow them travel to the Western Bloc without threat from the soviets. By the time a Guenter Schabowski mistakenly said that the wall was open “immediately,” nothing could stop the mobs of East Germans passionate for the freedom they fought for after such a long time. They had a right to …show more content…
"The Picnic That Brought down the Berlin Wall." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 13 Sept. 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. .
"Mikhail Gorbachev, Former USSR President."RSS. Euronews, 11 Mar. 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. .
Montgomery, Leigh, and Elizabeth Ryan. "Fall of the Berlin Wall: Timeline." The Christian Science Monitor. 8 Nov. 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. .
"On This Day: The Berlin Wall Comes Down." On This Day: The Berlin Wall Comes Down. Dulcinea Media, 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. .
"Perestroika and Glasnost." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. .
Sarotte, Mary Elise. "How an Accident Caused the Berlin Wall to Come Down." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 01 Nov. 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. .
Siegelbaum, Lewis. "1985: Perestroika and Glasnost." Soviet History. 2012. Web. 2012. .
Soper, Karl Wheeler. "The Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact." Library of Congress. 25 Nov. 1997. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. .
"Warsaw Pact (Europe [1955-91])." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. .
Wilde, Robert. "Brezhnev Doctrine." About.com European History. N.p., 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.
Perestroika, or “restructuring,” shifted the power in the Soviet Union to leaders in favor of more liberal political and economic reforms. Glasnost, or “openness,” let East Germans see what freedoms they were missing through uncensored media, and speak out with what their opinions were. The Sinatra Doctrine let countries control their own affairs as they pleased, many reforming vastly, while allowing Eastern Bloc citizens free travel throughout their Bloc and preventing military force from the Soviet Union from stepping in. With new important Communist Party officials supporting reforms, and countries allowed to make their own decisions, East Germans were given more rights, and had countries around them that practiced even more democratic ideas. The replacement of Erich Honecker gave East Germany a leader who was willing to implement reforms with freedom given to East Germans. With freedom to travel and hold demonstrations, East Germans pushed the government to allow them travel to the Western Bloc without threat from the soviets. By the time a Guenter Schabowski mistakenly said that the wall was open “immediately,” nothing could stop the mobs of East Germans passionate for the freedom they fought for after such a long time. They had a right to …show more content…
"The Picnic That Brought down the Berlin Wall." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 13 Sept. 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. .
"Mikhail Gorbachev, Former USSR President."RSS. Euronews, 11 Mar. 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. .
Montgomery, Leigh, and Elizabeth Ryan. "Fall of the Berlin Wall: Timeline." The Christian Science Monitor. 8 Nov. 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. .
"On This Day: The Berlin Wall Comes Down." On This Day: The Berlin Wall Comes Down. Dulcinea Media, 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. .
"Perestroika and Glasnost." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. .
Sarotte, Mary Elise. "How an Accident Caused the Berlin Wall to Come Down." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 01 Nov. 2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. .
Siegelbaum, Lewis. "1985: Perestroika and Glasnost." Soviet History. 2012. Web. 2012. .
Soper, Karl Wheeler. "The Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact." Library of Congress. 25 Nov. 1997. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. .
"Warsaw Pact (Europe [1955-91])." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. .
Wilde, Robert. "Brezhnev Doctrine." About.com European History. N.p., 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.