30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall

“Tor auf!” (“Open the gate!”) roared the crowds gathered at the Berlin Wall on this evening in 1989. Today’s Doodle, created by Berlin-based guest artist Max Guther, celebrates the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a peaceful revolution that signaled the simultaneous end of the Cold War and the beginning of German reunification.

Winds of change were blowing across Europe as new leadership in Russia, Poland, and Hungary had high hopes in East Germany for an end to 28 years of strict travel restrictions. During a government press conference, an official spokesman’s hasty statement gave reporters and TV viewers the mistaken impression that East Germany would be allowing free travel between East and West Berlin.

Within hours, a massive crowd gathered at the wall, far outnumbering the border crossing guards. Some time before midnight, the officer in charge of the Bornholmer Street checkpoint defied his superiors and gave the order to open the gate.

Word spread quickly, and over the next few days, 2 million jubilant Germans crossed the border, some singing, dancing, and toasting the start of a new era while others began physically dismantling the wall. 

Erected on August 13, 1961, the barbed wire and concrete edifice had long divided East and West Berlin. By the same token, its demolition triggered a series of events that led to the reunion of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic.

Guest Artist Q&A with Max Guther

Today's Doodle was created by Berlin-based guest artist, illustrator and animator Max Guther.

 Below, Max shares some thoughts on the making of the Doodle:

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally?

A: The fall of the Berlin wall deeply impacted not only me but all Germans and Europeans. I don't belong to the generation that witnessed the birth of this historic anniversary, but the reunion on this day will always continue. Personally this topic means a lot to me and I hope that there will never be another moment that I or anyone else has to live in a country with border walls locking people inside or keeping people outside. 

Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project?

A: This subject is such an important mark in German history, I felt very honored to have the opportunity to be working on this.

Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? 

A: I mostly drew inspiration from stories and old photographs of my parents who were in Berlin 30 years ago. They witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

Q: What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A: I hope that people start fighting border walls all over the world, helping people living in divided or separated countries, and giving refuge to those fleeing their home countries because they have no choice.

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