Square of November 9, 1989, Berlin moment by moment

place of contemplation

The square is covered with fine-leaved trees. From the east, the individual specimens become increasingly dense, forming a dense grove with an almost oppressive narrowness. The grove ends abruptly at the narrowest point of the square. Here the line runs for the moment of the instruction of the so-called valve opening (21.20 o'clock). At this time, the first GDR citizen without exit papers was able to cross the bridge. As tree species for the grove Prunus sub. "Autumnalis" is proposed. This ornamental cherry is the only one of its kind to flower in mild weather in autumn. The trunks will be illuminated at night.

Place of historical information

The space between the bridge bastion and the cherry tree grove is equipped with four image carriers as a central place of historical information. The image carriers are designed to rotate and can thus be placed in different ways in relation to each other. They are deliberately arranged in a concentrated manner and are located in the immediate vicinity of the wall path and the bridge.

Place of public remembrance

The bastion area at the bridge is read as a "distant", very individual space, facing the bridge and the expanse of the railway facilities. With a view of the Wall Trail along the former border, the place of public remembrance with the memorial stone will have its focal point here.

Chronicle of events

09:00 h
GDR ministries work on new travel regulations.

12:30 h
Draft travel regulations go to GDR Council of Ministers and SED Politburo.

16:00 h
SED General Secretary Krenz reads out travel regulations in the SED Central Committee.

18:00 h
Start of the international press conference of the ZK of the SED, live broadcast.

18:53 h
Travel regulation applies "immediately, without delay!" Schabowski, SED press spokesman

19:05 h
"GDR opens border," Tagesschau AP.

19:30 h
"Private travel to foreign countries can be requested," Aktuelle Kamera, GDR.

20:00 h
"GDR opens border," Tagesschau ARD.

20:15 h
50 East Berliners at Bornholmer Strasse.

20:40 h
"It is not possible to grant you exit here and now," Volkspolizist.

21:20 h
"Valve solution," 500 East Berliners, "Those who are most rebellious, let them out," Stasi colonel.

22:42 h
"The gates in the Wall are wide open," Tagesthemen, ARD.

23:20 h
"Open gate! Gate open! We're coming again, we're coming again!", East Berliners.

23:30 h
"We're flooding now! We're opening everything!", Stasi officer.

0:15 h
"Madness" - "Crazy" - "Unbelievable", 20,000 people have passed the Bösebrücke.

back to overview

1. place of contemplation
2. Place of historical information
3. Place of public remembrance
4. Chronicle of events