Berlin and Beethoven

After the fall of Nazi Germany at the end of WWII in Europe, the German nation was divided into four occupation zones (as per the Potsdam Agreement), each one controlled by one of the four occupying Allied powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Soviet Union. The capital of Berlin, as the seat of the Allied Control Council, was similarly subdivided into four sectors despite the city's location fully within the Soviet zone.  Within two years of the division, multiple problems arose between the non communist Allies and the Soviet Union.  Britain, France, the United States and the Benelux countries later met to combine the non-Soviet zones of the country into one zone for reconstruction and to approve the extension of the Marshall Plan.  This essentially created two German states, the non communist Federal Republic of Germany and the communist Soviet puppet state of the German Democratic Republic.  West Berlin, the capitalist bastion in the heart of the GDR was the avenue for those who wished to escape the repression of the GDR.  Over the course of the years between the end of WWII and 1961 3.5 million East Germans had left by this route totaling approximately 20% of the entire East German population.  In an effort to stem the tide of immigration to the west, the GDR began erecting the Berlin Wall and by Sunday morning, 13 August 1961, the border with West Berlin was closed. East German troops and workers had begun to tear up streets running alongside the border to make them impassable to most vehicles and to install barbed wire entanglements and fences along the 156 kilometres (97 mi) around the three western sectors, and the 43 kilometres (27 mi) that divided West and East Berlin.  This stopped virtually all immigration from the East to the West.  Between 1961 and 1989, only 5000 people successfully escaped into West Berlin while over a  100 were killed in their attempts to defect.   

In June of 1963, President John F. Kennedy gave one of his most iconic speeches before an audience of 450,000 people in West Berlin.  In his speech Kennedy said "Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was civis romanus sum ["I am a Roman citizen"]. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is "Ich bin ein Berliner!"... All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner!"'.  Twenty-four years later at the celebration of the 750th Anniversary of the founding of Berlin, President Ronald Reagan gave a speech at the Brandenburg Gate challenging Mikhail Gorbachev, then General Chairman of the Soviet Communist Party, to tear down the wall as a symbol of increasing freedom in the Eastern Bloc countries.  Reagan said "We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Protest demonstrations broke out all over East Germany in September 1989. Initially, protesters were mostly people wanting to leave to the West, chanting "Wir wollen raus!" ("We want out!"). Then protestors began to chant "Wir bleiben hier", ("We're staying here!"). This was the start of what East Germans generally call the "Peaceful Revolution" of late 1989.  The protest demonstrations grew considerably by early November. The movement neared its height on 4 November, when half a million people gathered at the Alexanderplatz demonstration, a rally for change in East Berlin's large public square and transportation hub.  On November 9, 1989, it was announced that the gates of the Berlin Wall would open and all could pass from the East to the West.   East Germans began gathering at the wall and at the six checkpoints between East and West, demanding that border guards immediately open the gates.  Finally, at 10:45 pm, the guards yielded, opening the checkpoints and allowing people through with little or no identity checking.  As the Ossis swarmed through, they were greeted by Wessis waiting with flowers and champagne amid wild rejoicing. Soon afterward, a crowd of West Berliners jumped on top of the wall, and were soon joined by East German youngsters. They danced together to celebrate their new freedom.  Although it took several more months, the Berlin Wall was completely deconstructed and all avenues  to the West were restored.  

THE BERLIN CELEBRATION CONCERT is an historic performance marking the fall of the Berlin Wall.  Performed on Christmas Day 1989 in the former East Berlin, the concert united an international cast of celebrated musicians and vocalists for a moving performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.  Uniting under the baton of the legendary conductor, Leonard Bernstein, were the Symphony Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio joined by members of Staatskapelle Dresden, Orchestra of the Leningrad Kirov Theatre, London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Orchestre de Paris.  Your Musical Moment for today is the flip side of yesterdays coin toss between Beethoven's Fifth and Ninth symphonies with the original video broadcast of the Berlin Celebration Concert which was televised internationally and broadcast via loudspeakers to the rapturous throngs surrounding the concert hall joining in the celebration. 

Then, not to be forgotten, here is your daily dose of man candy represented by these delightfully Lickable Lads.  Thanks for sharing a part of your day with me, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!