Moscow news
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15-Aug-2009
Beyond the Wall
Gorbachev, the figure behind perestroika who carried the hopes of many at the time for a better and brighter future, moved through the Manezh hall surrounded by a tight circle of cameramen and reporters. His quiet voice, as he gave interviews, was not about his own role, but of what the fall of the Wall implied for Germany, the surrounding countries and the world.
"It was in essence a symbol of a split between Berlin, a split between Germany and a split in Europe. This is what the German question was," Gorbachev said.
He emphasised the difficulty of the Soviet Union's relationship with Germany, but also the importance of finding a balance that finally led to the breakdown of the barrier forced upon the people of Berlin. Although Gorbachev had his own ideas, and contributed to serious reforms in his own country, there was much international pressure for him to resolve the German divide.
In a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in June 1987, then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan called on the Soviet leader to liberate the Soviet bloc. "There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalisation, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
The photographs at the exhibition included a shot of Gorbachev celebrating the anniversary of the fall, and Dmitry Vrubel's graffiti of the former Soviet leader on the wall itself, holding the hammer and sickle. But the majority of the exhibition focused on the faces of ordinary people, rather than politicians: photos showing protests against the building of the Wall and the faces of guards and soldiers and those who died while trying to cross to the West.
One powerful black-and-white photo showed 18-year old Peter Fechter as he lay in a pool of blood in the "death strip" section next to the Wall.
The young carpenter was shot by border guards as he tried to flee the East in 1962, to the horror and helplessness of hundreds of onlookers who were prevented from helping him. His was one of the first of hundreds of escape attempts that ended in death.
It is not surprising then, that such a large focus lay on remembering the people who were affected by the Wall. Germany's current ambassador to Russia, Walter Schmidt, told the audience that people today should note the importance of those who lived through those times. "We cannot forget that the people who had suffered from the division that was created by the wall literally tore it down," he said.
At one end of the Manezh, a watchtower stood, where one could climb to get an idea of what it was like to look from one side of the Wall. Speakers blared out the barking of guard dogs.
Among the works displayed were those of American photographer Anthony Suau, whose pictures showed the last stage of the Wall's active life. The people in them carried an infectious mood of an unstoppable will to live.
Gorbachev recalled the imperative of those times. "There were so many people who wanted to cross from both sides of the Wall. ... It was clear that [it] would fall, so we had to hurry the process," he said.
Schmidt said the people of Berlin had set an example for others to follow. "We are very grateful to these people for the fall of the Wall, the active citizens of Berlin. Active decisions, like then, are what will also mark our future - the future of our democracy."
The Moscow News