Europe Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Topics: Politics
Featured on Episode 9 of the 2009-2010 season, aired on Wednesday, November 11, 2009.
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Twenty years after the Berlin Wall fell in Germany, thousands gathered to remember that incredible night. Fireworks capped off the evening that was attended by all of the leaders of European countries. The high point of the celebration came when more than one thousand decorated styrofoam dominos fell one by one. The dominoes were stretched out along a two kilometer strip where the famous wall once stood. After Germany was defeated in World War II, the country was divided in two, with West Germany under the watch of the United States and its allies, and East Germany under the control of the Soviet Union. Within East Germany, the city of Berlin was also divided in half. Life was much harder in East Berlin and East Germany, and people kept trying to leave for freedom through West Berlin. In 1961, the people in charge of East Berlin built a wall to keep the people inside. Many years had passed when people all over Eastern Europe began demanding more freedom, even as their governments were weakening. On November 9, 1989, the people on the east side started knocking down the wall. It was the beginning of the end of what was called The Cold War. There was a great celebration that night. Soldiers put down their guns as people climbed over the wall, and poured through the formerly guarded gates. People chipped off pieces of the wall to keep as souvenirs. Ed Clancy takes us to Berlin to see what happened to many of those pieces of that wall.
Additional Information:
More from NPR
More from NPR
NPR story 20 Years and 89 Pounds of the Berlin Wall Later
Newseum on the Berlin Wall
PBS NewsHour Extra for Teachers
More on Berlin Wall Celebrations
Cyber Sleuth Kids
Web Photo Exhibition The Berlin Wall
Lesson Plan: Download the PDF
Grades: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade
Subjects: Social Studies
Lesson plans for grades three to eight. Social studies.
Standards Addressed: Standards included in lessons.
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i thought it was awesome how made dominos.it was AMAZING.i am actully from germany.i liked the fire works thet happend.i also liked how they put parts of the berlin wall in muesum.i don`t think people should have parts of the wall.it is history
rebekah omeara 7:18 PM 11/17/09