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11
November 1989: The Border Barrier System Opens
The late
1980’s were a period of amazing change in central Europe. In
the Soviet Union, Gorbachev had begun a new initiative of
political ”openess” and the communist governments of the
Warsaw Pact came under intense pressure from within to
likewise reform and adopt more democratic traditions. Once the
reform programs began, however, one by one, the governments
began to lose control over populations seeking the political
and social freedoms they knew existed in the West.
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US Patrol and possible Squadron Commander with pilot as photographed
by a GAK at Breitensee, 1989. All the interest was part of the
cutting of new roads through the fence as the border began to open.
--Erwin Ritter |
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Discussion of the new
crossing point between Trappstadt and Eicha in Dec 89. Seen in
profile at left, Chief of the Bavarian Border Police from Munich.
Then in center, senior BGS Officer from Oerlenbach and Officer
Ritter. Then profile at right, senior Border Troop Commander.
Meeting started with stony faces, then everyone smiled and got on
with business.
--Erwin Ritter |
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At first,
in the DDR, Poland and Czechoslovakia, the governments
responded with riot police in an attempt to stop popular
unrest. Soon, however, massive strikes and continued
demonstrations began to topple the old style communist regimes
and reform leadership took control. The Soviet Union had
experienced little unrest during this period but informed the
nations behind the Iron Curtin that no Russian military
intervention to quell political demonstrations should to be
expected.
East
Germany during the middle and late 1980's suffered severe
internal difficulties. The economy was faltering badly,
soldiers were pressed into service to help harvest the crops.
Unemployment and popular unrest had grown dramatically. During
an October 1989 visit by Gorbachev, massive demonstrations
occurred and to save the socialist government, the long term
leader, Eric Honecker stepped down and was replaced by a
reformer, Egon Krenz. During this period of unrest, thousands
of East Germans had already begun to flee to Austria through
borders opened by Hungary. Realizing this situation could not
continue, Krenz first tried to halt the flow, then adopted a
plan to open the borders of the DDR on a regulated basis.
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Opening of the new crossing point at Fladungen - Melpers, December
89.
--Erwin Ritter
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So ... it ends with a picnic. The following day, we met again for an
out door lunch by Filke. On left side, two Officers from the BT and
SSG Roberts from the 2/11 ACR. Then standing at center, Herr Habel
of BGS, American MI from BRO, Herr Landgraf of BBP, Zoll Officer and
finally, Herr Karch of BGS.
--Erwin Ritter |
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Krenz
agreed to first open the border along the Berlin Wall, then
establish new crossing points along the Inner German Border.
His government gambled that if free access was opened to
the West, people might initially be interested, but would soon
return to their homes in the DDR. He had other reforms
planned and believed that two Germanys could continue to co -
exist. The original plan allowed for the Border Troops to
supervise and control passage to the West. As tens of
thousands began to flee through the openings in the first few
days, it became apparent that control and documentation was
virtually impossible.
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Construction of the crossing point at Fladungen, November 89. At
left is Senior Officer Herr Griebling of the BGS. He is talking
with CPT La Vulo
--Erwin Ritter |
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Spring 1990, new crossing road by Trappstadt.
--Erwin Ritter |
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For Border
Troop engineer units, who for decades had helped build,
maintain and upgrade the barrier system, the mission for the
first week of November, 1989, was to cut new roads through the
fences to allow passage to the Federal Republic of Germany.
The troopers of the Eaglehorse Squadron were eye witnesses to
history as the border began to come down.
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Temporary control point at Trappstadt.
--Erwin Ritter
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East German traffic streams to the West through the new crossing
point at Fladungen, December 1990.
--Erwin Ritter |
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In our
sector, new major crossing points were built at Fladungen -
Melpers and Trappstadt - Eicha. These points, once built,
were open 24 hrs per day. Other, less substantial points were
built along the border where pre existing roads once had
existed. Many of these smaller points were only opened on
weekends.
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Another view of the " last meal " on the border.
--Erwin Ritter
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The world turned upside down. Two Border Troops watch the
construction of the Fladungen crossing point.
--Erwin Ritter |
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Events
happened quickly. In late November, FRG Chancellor Helmut Kohl
announced a complicated plan to reunify East and West Germany.
Over the next months, through a series of elections and
reforms, the government of East Germany was disassembled and
official reunification was marked on 3 October, 1990.
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After the border opened to more traffic and the political
direction became clear, joint patrols were conducted along
the border involving all people with an interest in the
area. DDR Border Troops walked together with Zoll, BGS,
BBP, Americans from the BRO and Eaglehorse to insure
agreement and safety in the area. The last joint walk was
in May 1990. In the center of this foto can be seen two
Officers of the Border Troops and myself. At the left in
foto is Herr Karch of BGS, Mr Connley of the BRO and Herr
Rebhahn of Zoll. At the right, Herr Pfister of BBP, SSG
Roberts of the 2/11 ACR and another American NCO.
--Erwin Ritter |
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