"I THINK THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS"

ALLIES SUGGEST SOVIET GUARDS USE ALTERNATE CROSSING POINTS IN BERLIN OTHER THAN CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

Berlin (JFK+50) On September 3,1962, Associated Press reports "the Western allies halted a Soviet guard convoy at Checkpoint Charlie yesterday and suggested the Russians use the Brandenburg Gate* or the Sandkrug-Bruecke crossing."

The suggestions came from Major General Albert Watson III (US), Major General Claude Dunbar (UK) & Major General Edouard Toulouse (FR).

JFK+50 NOTE

Since the Soviets had blocked the Brandenburg Gate, it was asked how they could go about driving through it.  An informant replied...

"I think that's their business."

*Brandenburg Gate is an 18th century classical monument located in Berlin, Germany.  BG opened in 1791.  For almost 30 years the gate was obstructed by the Berlin Wall.

SOURCE

"Allies Suggest Russians Use Easier Berlin Entry," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., September 3, 1962, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

The Brandenburg Gate

Berlin, Germany

photo by Cezary p at Polish Wikipedia

2007

THIS CITY AND COUNTRY WILL BE JOINED AS ONE

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2460

THE REUNIFICATION OF GERMANY

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) Twenty-seven years ago today, October 3, 1990, East Germany and West Germany ended forty-five years of post World War II division by declaring the creation of a reunified country.

At midnight Berlin time, the black, red and gold flag of Germany was raised above the Brandenburg Gate.  It was a moment that President John F. Kennedy predicted when he visited the divided city in June 1963.

In his famous 'Ich Bin ein Berliner' speech, the President said...

"Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free.  When all are free, then we can look forward to that day when this city will be joined as one and this country and this great continent of Europe in a peaceful and hopeful globe."

How has reunification impacted the lives of German citizens with the passage of a quarter of a century?  According to Kate Connolly of The Guardian, half of Germans today believe there are still more differences than commonalities between those who live in the East vs. those in the West.

One point is that many West Germans "have never even been to the East," and another is that of the 500 richest companies, only 21 are located in the East.   Wages are, on average, higher by a third in the West.

The one area where the East shines is in education.  Eastern German school children perform best in mathematics, science, biology, chemistry and physics.

SOURCES

"Germany reunified 25 years on:  how different are east and west really," by Kate Connolly, The Guardian, www.theguardian.com/

"John F. Kennedy, Ich bin ein Berliner Speech", June 26, 1963, American History From Revolution to Reconstruction and beyond, www.let.rug.nl/

Bundesarchiv Bild

Berlin, Germany

3 October 1990

Photo by Peer Grimm

German Federal Archives

GERMANY REUNIFIED

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1732

GERMANY REUNIFIED 25 YEARS AGO

Berlin, Germany (JFK+50) Twenty-five years ago today, October 3, 1990, East Germany and West Germany ended forty-five years of post World War II division by declaring the creation of a reunified country.

At midnight Berlin time, the black, red and gold flag of Germany was raised above the Brandenburg Gate.  It was a moment that President John F. Kennedy predicted when he visited the divided city in June 1963.

So how has reunification impacted the lives of German citizens with the passage of a quarter of a century.  According to Kate Connolly of The Guardian, half of Germans today believe there are still more differences than commonalities between those who live in the East vs. those in the West.

One point is that many West Germans "have never even been to the East," and another is that of the 500 richest companies, only 21 are located in the East.   Wages are, on average, higher by a third in the West.

The one area where the East shines is in education.  Eastern German school children perform best in mathematics, science, biology, chemistry and physics.

SOURCE

"Germany reunified 25 years on:  how different are east and west really," by Kate Connolly, The Guardian, www.theguardian.com/

Bundesarchiv Bild

Berlin, Germany

3 October 1990

Photo by Peer Grimm

German Federal Archives