35 years after the turn: former cross -border commuters united at Mechower See

35 years after the turn: former cross -border commuters united at Mechower See

35 years ago, on June 30, 1990, the then police chief Wolfgang May from the Federal Border Guard (BGS) reported with his last official command. This moment not only marked the end of its service on the inner -German border, but also a symbolic conclusion of the decades of border controls. May was responsible for the section from the northern edge of the Ratzeburg lake to Zarrentin. In the hope of capturing the historical moment, he waited until his supervisor had left the barracks to write a message that was strangely completed within just three minutes. In it he wished the recipients a good year 1990. The news was a harbinger of change that was imminent in 1990, not least because of the tireless commitment of citizens who fought for their freedom and finally succeeded after years of protests. According to Nordkurier, a friendship between May and Jens Strohschein, a former border guards of the GDR met.

How was it to stand on the other side of the wall? At that time, Jens Strohschein was used in Schlagbrügge, unsuspecting about who was opposed to him. While the GDR border guards were informed about the BGS, the BGS officials could only guess who they faced. After the border opening, straw slip was still stationed in Schlagbrügge in order to monitor the conversion of the border facilities. The meeting of the two former "opponents" impressively shows how history can change - friends who offer joint hikes on border history will be made of opponents. The next hike will take place on July 26th around Mechower See, at the Grenzhus in Schlagsdorf.

The history of the border

The border history of Germany is one of the most complex and moving stories in European history. After the Second World War, Germany was divided into two countries in 1949: the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the east and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in the west. This limit, which stretched over 1,400 kilometers, was the best guarded at that time. Many people remembered the strict controls that made it extremely difficult to change the sides. Special permits were often needed to travel from east to west. The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 was the result of a growing interference of the GDR citizens about their living conditions and the ongoing oppression. In the summer of 1989, over 50,000 people fled from the GDR to the West, and prominent events such as the "Monday demonstrations" led to the dissolution of the regime.

The fall of the Berlin Wall is seen as a key moment in the history of Germany, not only as the end of a regime, but also as a turning point for all of Europe. Within a few months, Germany was reunited on October 3, 1990, which is celebrated today as the "Day of German Unity". The [planet knowledge] (https://www.planet-wissen.de/Geschichte/die_berliner_mauer/ddr-mauerfall-wiederminigung-100.html) platform emphasizes that the Berlin Wall Fall and the subsequent reunification not only ended the division of Germany, but also brought with it profound social changes.

changes after reunification

In the years after reunification, Germany experienced profound changes. The border area between east and west has been redesigned, many formerly living cities and municipalities were faced with drastic upheavals. Residents reported sudden changes in their everyday life while tourist structures changed. Examples of this change include the "German division Marienborn" memorial on the A2 motorway, which once included the central border facilities, and the "Green Band" project, which is to create a belt from nature along the former border. Whether one speaks of the new beginning or the economic deficit, the effects of reunification are still noticeable today.

What was considered a farewell to the past 35 years ago has turned into a positive development in which former border regions will rediscover. Wolfgang May and Jens Strohschein live this change by actively sharing the history of the border with the next generation and symbolizing the friendship that emerged from a time of separation. Her guided hikes are not only a journey through history, but also a sign of the connection that has accompanied the path to Germany.