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(© Jim Ries)

The Berlin Wall came down on November 9, 1989. People around the world watched in amazement as jubilant crowds gathered on both sides of Berlin to celebrate the opening of the border crossings. They witnessed the start of a new era. It was the end of the Cold War, the beginning of a fully united Europe and proof that peaceful change is possible, even in the moments when it seems most unlikely.

500 guests from the German-American community came together at Colony Square Mall on November 9th, 2009 to celebrate Germany's historic victory – the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Organized by the German Consulate General in Atlanta and the Goethe-Zentrum / German Cultural Center, the event remembered the historic events that led to the Fall of the Iron Curtain and the instrumental role that the United States played in Germany's “Peaceful Revolution”.

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Consul General Lutz Görgens

(© Jim Ries)

Freedom would not have prevailed in Germany and reunification would not have been achieved without the steadfast and unfaltering support of the United States. 

"We celebrate this important milestone with our American friends in a spirit of gratitude and with a desire to share Germany's historic experience - the vision of hope, of unity, and of freedom without walls," Consul General Lutz Görgens explained. He continued that reaching out to a new generation is critical if the memory and the inspiration of the fall of the wall is to be preserved.

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Helen Bickers sings the German National Anthem

(© Jim Ries)

After the Consul General's opening remarks, renowned opera singer Helen Bickers, a native Atlantan, sang the German and American national anthems. 

Mrs. Bickers was with the Niedersächsische Staatsoper Hannover when Germany's borders opened and still remembers the excitement with which she went to the closest border crossing to celebrate with the jubilant masses. After the fall of the wall, she had engagements with the Deutsche Oper Berlin and also sung at the Anhaltinisches Theater. She made lasting friendships in both parts of united Germany and had therefore a very special connection to the festivities.

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(© Jim Ries)

The Berlin Wall was built on August 13, 1961. By the time it crumbled on November 9, 1989, the 96-mile-long (154.5 km) Berlin Wall had claimed the lives of at least 100 people. Also called the “death strip”, it included 302 watchtowers, 20 bunkers, and 106 kilometers of concrete segments which were about 4 meters high, with the remainder of the wall being wire fencing completely surrounding West Berlin and preventing any access from East Germany.

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Colonel Verner Pike

(© Jim Ries)

Colonel Verner Pike of Pinehurst, North Carolina, the officer in charge of Checkpoint Charlie the night the Berlin Wall went up in 1961, was the first featured speaker of the evening. 

After almost five decades, he gave a fascinating account of the events that occured on those nights in August of 1961 when the Russians first put concrete pillars in the middle of the street along the zone border and then connected them with barbed wire to prevent people from crossing into West Berlin. 

Col. Pike explained to the captive audience how threatening the encounters with the Russian tanks were in these first hours and days and that it took all the strength of the Americans posted at Checkpoint Charlie to provide intelligence and good judgement in order to prevent the escalation of the brewing conflict.

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Kenneth Stewart, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, presented Governor Perdue's proclamation to the guest

(© Jim Ries)

Next Kenneth Stewart, who was appointed Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development by Governor Sunny Perdue in 2007, presented the "Freedom Without Walls" proclamation by Governor Perdue to the audience. 

In the proclamation, Governor Perdue congratulates the German people on their historic accomplishment to peacefully unite their country and to emerge as a strong, cohesive democracy. He urges all citizens to observe "Freedom Without Walls Day" with appropriate ceremonies and to reaffirm their dedication to freedom and democracy.

More information on the Governor's Proclamation

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Georgia Senator Judson Hill gave the keynote speech

(© Jim Ries)

Georgia Senator Judson Hill, a descendant of an early 18th century German immigrant to Savannah, has many connections to present-day Germany. Having visited Germany 13 times himself, he led a Georgia economic development trip to Bavaria and Saxony in 2007. He also studied German here at the Goethe-Zentrum and hosted “Germany Day” at the Georgia State House. In his keynote speech, he praised the excellent political, economic and cultural relationships between Georgia and Germany.

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The booth of the German Consulate General and the Wheel of Fortune were stocked with many prizes

(© Paul Hu)

After the conclusion of the formal program, guests enjoyed the delicious German food, tried their luck at the Wheel of Fortune at the German Consulat booth and strolled outside to have a closer look at two icons of German history which gathered quite a bit of attention: An original piece of the Berlin Wall which was placed in front of Colony Square alongside a bright blue "Trabi", the famous East German automobile. Many guests took the chance to have their picture taken with these two colorful originals.

More information on the Berlin Wall

The „Berlin Kreuzberg SO 36“ exhibition, a display of before/after photos of the Berlin Wall, was opened during the event with the exhibition's artist Peter Frischmuth (in photo on the right) in attendance. The guests enjoyed special tours and were able to purchase signed copies of the exhibition catalogue.  

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"Kreuzberg SO 36" photographer Peter Frischmuth gives tours through his exhibit

(© Jim Ries)

The photo exhibition captures the people and the streetscape in one of Berlin's most famous districts and the changes that occurred after the fall of the Berlin Wall.  

About his first visit to Berlin in December of 1973, at age 16, Peter Frischmuth wrote: "I will never forget the view from the window of the PanAm at the landing approach at Tempelhof Airport. It was already dark as the plane pushed its way through the clouds. Underneath me a bright bang of glaring lights that cut the city in two. The wall, the death strip – my first impression of Berlin."

The "Kreuzberg SO 36" exhibit will be on diplay at the Goethe-Zentrum through December 18th.

More information on the "Kreuzberg SO 36" Exhibit

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Berlin photo display of the Atlanta International School

(© Paul Hu)

The Atlanta International School provided a colorful display of photos taken in Berlin and at the remnants of the Berlin Wall by the German 5th grade classes. Every year, the 5th grade class trip takes them to Germany's capital to learn about our country's past and present. This year, they even had a chance meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel

The event was sponsored by Porsche Cars North America, Hansgrohe, Bauerfeind, AGCO, International Freight Forwarders, The Coca-Cola Company, Creative Staging Services, and Petite Auberge Restaurant.