Commemoration of the fall of the Berlin Wall: Potsdam celebrates reunified freedom!

Commemoration of the fall of the Berlin Wall: Potsdam celebrates reunified freedom!

On November 10, 2025, Hannes Wittenberg, the deputy head of the Potsdam Museum, looked over the Glienicke Bridge, a place charged with a lot of history and meaning, on the occasion of an important memorial hour. Accompanied by around 150 guests, including Mayor Noosha Aubel and Brandenburg's Deputy Prime Minister Robert Crumbach, he reflected on German unity and the responsibility that comes with the fall of the Wall. This memorial event took place not only at the bridge itself, but also at the impressive sculpture “Nike 1989”, which was erected as a symbol of freedom and remembrance of the victims of the Wall and the SED dictatorship.

Klaus-Peter Ladner, chairman of the support group for the Lindenstrasse memorial, led the event and vividly recalled November 10, 1989, when the crowds at the Glienicke Bridge were so overwhelming that it was opened to people at 6 p.m. This event is in the context of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, which marked the beginning of the destruction of the Iron Curtain and evoked a flood of memories and emotions for many of our older generations who experienced the day of change first hand.

The fall of the Berlin Wall and its consequences

The fall of the Wall was a crucial moment in the history of Germany and the entire world. When it opened on November 9, 1989, people streamed through the wall, which led to the overcoming of transit restrictions in East Berlin. This unique moment is considered an important step towards German reunification, which took place on October 3, 1990. Wittenberg gave an impressive account as an eyewitness of the Monday demonstrations in Leipzig and his experiences in the days of change when people began to fight for freedom and democracy. He recalled the strict controls and fences that had held the GDR population captive until that day.

Noosha Aubel took up Wittenberg's thoughts and emphasized that the memory of the events of 1989 is also important for younger generations who do not know the division of Germany from their own experience. This is also reflected in Robert Crumbach's words, who pointed out the importance of preserving the lessons of the past so that they are not forgotten.

The symbolic power of memory

The sculpture “Nike 1989”, which was erected in Potsdam in 1999 as a symbol of freedom, not only represents the joy of the freedom achieved, but also an honorable remembrance of the thousands upon thousands of people who had to suffer because of their courage in the fight for freedom and democracy. During the memorial hour, it became clear that the fall of the Wall was not just a national, but a European moment that ended the Cold War and ushered in the opening of a new chapter in Germany's history. The connection between these events and today's political landscape remains central to understanding democracy as an ongoing process.

In conclusion, such commemorative events are crucial to honor the achievements of the past while recognizing the challenges that still lie ahead. The remarks by the deputy head of the Potsdam Museum and the many impressions captured that day help keep the legacy of the fall of the Wall alive and grow closer together as a community.