Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall

I know it to be a symbol of a unified nation. The fall of Berlin wall to be more specific. But I always thought that the West Germans were running over to escape to East Germans because the West were a cruel bunch of communists, instead, it was actually the other way round.

I guess I always have that prejudice towards the Westerners. To be quite frank, I was never a fan of history. You had to literally shove a history book in my face to get me to read it. And I always fell asleep in history class (but awake enough so that I won't get caught). So how was it that I ended up watching the History Channel? I .. have no answer to that. It was during one weekend, and I was home alone, and there was nothing good on TV. Nothing on Star World, nothing on AXN, nothing on Channel E! ... basically TV was not on my good side that day.

And so I was flipping through channels just for the sake of it, and it just so happened that the story of the Berlin Wall was on the History Channel. Again, I stress that am no fan of history, but what struck me was this particular topic, which I happen to come across the day before in an article in The Star about a Malaysian residing in Germany. I initially just skimmed over half of what she wrote, but then something caught my attention. I can't remember what. But it could be that the fact that her German husband had a part of the Berlin Wall in his possession. A piece of concrete, but a significant reminder of the tormented nation Germany once was.

I only realised then that it was the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and that was why the article was featured and it was on telly. What was significant to me was the great lengths that many East Germans took to escape to West Germany, in hopes for a better life.

We all know that there was this long, high concrete wall encircling Germany, separating the East from the West. But I now only knew, from watching the History Channel, that there was more to the segregation than a 12 ft wall of concrete. There were dozen of booby traps laid across the whole stretch of the Berlin Wall, on the East side. The land was left barren so that the guards can spot with ease, anyone attempting to emigrate to the West. More than 80 people were shot or killed in their attempts to escape to the West.

In spite of all the security measures to stop people fleeing from East Germany, many has successfully escaped and lived to tell the tale. And they are wonderful and surprising escape stories.

The best escape attempt, for me, is certainly by a handcrafted hot-air balloon. I was fascinated by the story that two families successfully crossed the wall by way of hot-air balloon. It wasn't an easy attempt at escape, the first time, they failed to cross the wall. They were so close, yet so far from freedom. The second time around, the blazing fire from the thingamajig that's supposed to blow hot air and thereby lifting the basket into the air, burned a hole into the fabric. The two families were very lucky that despite this obstacle, they still made it across the wall and their escape attempt even became a Disney movie! (Night Crossing)

In the end, the Soviet-controlled East Germany opened up the borders to Hungary, and I guess, the rest is ... history. The wall was torn down, families reunited, Germany was thereby unified. The Cold War officially ended and so was the nightmare.

The story of this magnificent wall never quite got me hooked onto history, but it sure got me interested enough to let myself open up, and embrace the stories of the past.

Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall