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THIS DAY 25 years ago saw the fall, metaphorically at least, of the Berlin Wall.
The date on which the wall fell is considered to be 9 November 1989, but its physical removal took some time. On 13 June 1990, the official dismantling of the wall by the East German military began. It was completed in 1992.
East German soldiers began erecting the wall in August 1961. It would divide East and West Berlin for almost three decades.
The move was condemned by the West, US Secretary of State Dean Rusk called it a “flagrant violation” of East-West relations. The structure blocked off an escape route for many refugees who were attempting to escape the Communist regime of the East.
This photo was taken on 13 August 1961 – the day the building of the wall commenced – and shows members of the East German military removing paving blocks on Friedrich Street in the east of the city.
The Wall was 12 feet high and some 96 miles long.
Estimates of the number of people who died trying to cross the wall vary. It is believed to have been in the region of 200. Some were caught in the barbed wire or fell, while others were shot dead by soldiers.
East German National People’s Army soldiers man an unfinished part of the Berlin Wall on 18 August 1961.
West German police wearing British machine guns in front of the Brandenburg Gate on 23 October 1961.
Sinatra Treaty
A culmination of events led to the wall’s collapse.
In 1989 the Soviet Union loosened its grip on neighbouring Warsaw Pact nations – countries on the eastern side of the Iron Curtain, which included East Germany – when it introduced the Sinatra Doctrine.
The document, which allowed the countries to determine their own internal affairs, was so-called in a nod to the Frank Sinatra song My Way. Soviet Foreign Ministry spokesman Gennadi Gerasimov coined the phrase.
It represented a major change from the earlier Brezhnev Doctrine, under which the internal affairs of satellite states were tightly controlled by Moscow.
Two women embrace at the Oberbaumbrucke crossing. The Berlin Wall was opened temporarily at various checkpoints on 31 March 1972 to allow East and West Berlin residents to reunite.
A section of the Berlin Wall, warning people they are now leaving West Berlin, pictured on 6 August 1974.
Sylvester Stallone embraces East Berlin nurse Liane Suendermann at West Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie on 9 June 1988. Suendermann escaped from East Berlin to the West on 27 May by hiding in a passenger seat of a Mini car.
During ceremonies marking the 40th anniversary of East Germany, Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev (left) kisses East German leader Erich Honecker at Schoenfeld Airport in East Berlin on 6 October 1989. The photo was taken shortly before Henecker was forced out of power, and a month before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Revolution
The ‘revolutions of 1989′ that took place in Warsaw Pact countries led to Hungary opening its border with Austria and destabilising East Germany in the process.
In 1990, East Germany (or the German Democratic Republic) joined West Germany (the Federal Republic of Germany. The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.
East Berliners get helping hands from West Berliners as they climb the Berlin Wall, early on Friday morning, 10 November 1989.
A man chisels a piece of the wall on 10 November 1989.
A man hits the wall with a sledgehammer on 12 November 1989.
Young East Berliners shout for joy as they run into West Berlin through an opening in the Berlin Wall on 23 December 1989. The new East German Government had promised to fully open the gate by Christmas of that year.
Dominoes symbolising the Berlin Wall sit on the ground after falling in front of the Brandenburg Gate on 9 November 2009, during the commemorations of the 20th anniversary of the fall.
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The Labour party, always well meaning in opposition, talk the talk until the get in to government the wou6 make any right wing party proud .
How do I run for the election? I could do with a 6 figure salary and absolutely no consequences for telling lies or doing anything wrong in my job. #VoteMe
@TheMinisterForCraic: and expenses so you can buy lunch for your cronies without needing receipts!
@Tessa Madden: I’ll buy everyone who votes for me lunch. I’ll also promise you anything you want just for your vote. Then when I get in I’ll do whatever I want in terms of decisions, I’ll ignore all of the promises I said and I’ll fill my pockets as much as I can in this short time in charge because I couldn’t careless about the future of Ireland, the future of my own family is all I care about it. #VoteMe
@TheMinisterForCraic: not to mention a fat pension for life after the gravy train reaches the terminus.
Ivana Back? Is she new, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of her or of her having an opinion no one asked.
@This time its personable!: Poor Ivana. God love her. She should cop on and get a real job.
Jesus labour are the gift that keep on giving ha. Alan Kelly in charge and all of a sudden then thobk they have a conscience. Would make ya possibly get them your No.4 vote. Almost. God love her hasn’t a hope and either do FG on retaining the seat, with their voice of a generation ( with supreme Court parents and grandparents) candidate. Both really understand the working man
Another Has Been
@pat seery: you have to be someone to start with before you become a has been…
@pat seery: Very poor grammar. “Another was”.
@Paul Jude Redmond: A neverwasser
If people don’t get out and vote, nothing will change.
@Jules:
Vote for who?
@The Grand Nagus: whoever you choose, but vote. The generally low turnout of voters perpetuates the poor standard of government
@Jules: no it’s the candidates that perpetuates the poor stand of government!
@JongaFe: it’s both
Can’t stand listening to her, still trying to get into Government hopefully not a hope
Labour’s vision of Ireland became FGs version of Ireland when in government. Reduced to six seats , thats when they discovered the road to Damascus moment..
Just a question. Has Ivana won a “popular vote” election in the past?
Some people just can’t take no for an answer
Serial loser going to lose another election.
Another well heeled socialist.. Like Mickey D’s daughter, if you can’t win a real election take a handy number in the Senate spouting oh so progressive platitudes that mean nothing. Our political class are useless. Bacik offers nothing only soundbites for affluent liberals. Labour lost touch with working people a long time ago.
There hasn’t been a good leader of the Labour Party since Dick Spring, Ivana puts her name forward in every election that arises, seanad, council, presidentdency and now have another go at becoming a TD, which she has done enough time and not be elected, this by-election is in constituency where I live, personally I can’t see her been elected, certainly not by residents who live in the working class areas such as myself.
Zzzzzzzz
You have to hopes no hope and Bob hope
Absolutely useless person. Chocolate teapot springs to mind. Never forget labour cutting the ribbon on a soup kitchen.
Bacik has never been elected. That is not going to change.
As she takes a 70,000eur a year salary from taxpayers for her unelected position of senator, she can properly be regarded as a thief.
The Seanad is a stain on Irish democracy.
Bacik is too smart for her own good. Lacks personality. You would never win an arguement against her. Pity as she got bags of potential.
@Rob Jones: if she was that great she wouldn’t have failed to be elected in any of her 3 previous attempts at a Dail seat.
@Rob Jones: Being an excellent lawyer doesn’t make her a good public representative. She should stick to law and teaching. She has no chance. Labour is a dead party to the working class after IPhone-Joan.
@Paul Whitehead: “Labour is a dead party to the working class after IPhone-Joan.” Don’t forget Alan Kelly and Eamon ‘Labour’s way or Frankfort’s Way’ Gilmore. No way Labour…Just go away.
@Billy Big Baws: the comment about her name is uncalled for. It’s a Czech name i think
A health and welfare service from CABLE to the grave ??? So when does this service become available?
Bacik is head and shoulders in intellect above most Irish politicians which means of course she’s never elected. I’m amazed she’s never got in somewhere. I’d vote for her if I was in DB South. I don’t always agree with her but at least she has ideas
Whatever your views on the Labour Party Ivana Bacik is a good opreator with a long track record on social issues and would be a great addition to the Dáil. She does not deserve the negativity on show in these comments.
Any prospective candidate talking about house prices from this constituency smacks of hypocrisy.
@Billy Big Baws: Igno rant, rac ist lo ut.
She does know and remember labours vision changes when they get into government..what was it… labours way not frankfurts way
have your say