"Most people are familiar with Schabowski's spectacular press conference and the ensuing, memorable opening of the border controls on the Bornholmer Straße Bridge on 9 November. And events remain relevant today. But what was going on further north in Berlin?
To begin with, a couple of Wall segments near the area around the Wollankstraße were torn down. And with the help of tarmac filling, the road could also be re-opened to cars. Thus, in order to visit relatives or simply take a look around West Berlin, we had to take the bus from Wilhelmsruh to Wollankstraße and cross the border there. However, we still had to have our passports stamped each time until the end of February 1990. And it took a little longer before a direct crossing to Reinickendorf was possible.
When it was finally made public that they were going to open the Kopenhagener Straße near the Wilhelmsruh S-Bahn Station, not everyone was happy about it. It may seem odd, but some of the local residents wanted to prevent a crossing from being opened. Apparently they were keen to preserve the tranquillity of outlying Wilhelmsruh and were fearful that a crossing would mean more traffic coming through on the main road.
And that's why they appealed to the public to protest. On the Wall and in large letters that could be read from a fair distance away, they wrote: NO VEHICLE CROSSING – CITIZENS DEFEND YOURSELVES ON 3 MARCH – BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS ONLY'. Needless to say, it didn't stop the divided city from coming together again.
The highlight took place on 7 April. Many residents and prominent political figures gathered at the border where the Wall had been. Among those present were Werner Krätschell, superintendent and head of the "Round Table" in Pankow, Nils Busch-Petersen, who became mayor of Pankow following the demission of the SED (East German Communist Party) office bearer, Detlef Dzembritzki (SPD), the mayor of Reinickendorf and General François Cann, the military governor of the French sector.
Following the opening ceremony, the public celebration started. Countless residents from Wilhelmsruh and Reinickendorf strolled up and down the Kopenhagener Straße and enjoyed the performances. Artists including the Berliner Originale with their hurdy-gurdies, bagpipers and various bands like the Köpenicker Blasmusikanten in their old Berlin style traditional uniforms contributed to creating a great atmosphere. They were truly moving moments."
Wolfgang Drunk
