DPA/Berlin
German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a personal account of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, which she called the “luckiest day of recent German history”, in a video broadcast released yesterday.
The chancellor, who grew up in former East Germany, said the news came at the end of a regular Thursday.
“As I came home from work, from the Science Academy, I heard (East German Politburo member Guenter) Schabowski announce that the borders would open soon. It was not quite clear to me what this meant, but I immediately called my mother and told her this possible news,” Merkel said.
Merkel said she then went for her regular Thursday trip to the sauna, before stepping out as thousands of people were crossing the first open checkpoint to West Berlin.
“I joined this stream of people and was happy with many others about this incredible day.”
Tomorrow - the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall - Merkel is to retrace her steps across the former Bornholmer Bridge checkpoint, accompanied by civil rights activists and church representatives who helped topple the communist East German regime.
“I am happy that we are allowing this event to run past us again, and maybe young people in particular should experience once more the happy hours that took place in Germany 20 years ago,” Merkel said in her weekly video podcast.
“I think it will be a very emotional event,” she added.
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