36 years of border opening: A historic day for Hesse and Thuringia!

36 years of border opening: A historic day for Hesse and Thuringia!

On November 9, 2025, the fall of the Berlin Wall will be on everyone's lips, and Hesse will also celebrate this historic day. Hesse's Interior Minister, Roman Poseck, recently praised the opening of the inner-German border between Vacha (Thuringia) and Philippsthal (Hesse). This was just three days after the historic event of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, which marked the beginning of an unprecedented turnaround in Germany. A statement from the ministry emphasizes that history was made on this day not only in Berlin, but also in small towns like Vacha. The previously impassable Werra Bridge between Philippsthal and Vacha became the lifeline between the two former systems on November 12, 1989 and has been referred to as the “Bridge of Unity” since 1990.

Poseck described this revolution of 1989 and the subsequent reunification of Germany as a “stroke of luck in German history”. The courage and commitment of the citizens of the former GDR ensured that their demands for freedom and democracy were rewarded in 1989. Many people still remember the hugging and crying faces of those who witnessed the opening of the border: a moving moment of amazement at the rapid change in the political landscape.

The historical context of the fall of the Berlin Wall

The fall of the Berlin Wall is not only a milestone in German history, but also an important building block for the entire European continent. This event fell into the context of the Peaceful Revolution in the GDR, which was characterized by mass protests and the search for freedom of travel. November 9, 1989 became a symbol of the dismantling of the Iron Curtain, which had divided Germany into two states since 1949: the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in the west and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the east. This division was associated with extreme travel restrictions that were difficult for people in the GDR to overcome.

As early as the summer of 1989, over 50,000 people fled the GDR, often via Hungary, where some of the border facilities had been dismantled. The “Pan-European Picnic” on the Hungarian-Austrian border played a crucial role, giving many GDR citizens the opportunity to escape. On September 30, 1989, those in authority felt that they had to defuse the situation, and West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher gave the refugees in Prague permission to leave for the Federal Republic of Germany.

An unmistakable change

The fall of the Berlin Wall itself occurred at a press conference in which Günter Schabowski announced the new travel regulations. His statement that the regulations should come into force immediately triggered a massive rush to the border crossings. People streamed through the gates of the wall and celebrated the reunion with relatives and friends. The following weeks were characterized by euphoria as millions of pieces of the Wall were taken as souvenirs and discussions began about the future of the two German states.

German reunification took place on October 3, 1990 and was widely celebrated in Berlin. These celebrations not only mark the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new, shared history for Germany. Today, 36 years after these groundbreaking events, the commitment to democratic values ​​is more on the agenda than ever. Poseck emphasizes that this heritage must be preserved, and the Border Museum in Philippsthal keeps the spirit of this turbulent time alive to this day.