internment camps” including Ranis Castle, were prepared tohouse the 85,939 individuals who were currently beingmonitored by the Stasi. Under codename: “Shield”, thearrest orders were sent to all of the 211 local Stasiprecincts. To Mielke’s dismay, they were ignored as localStasi operatives opted to barricade themselves within theiroffices for fear of reprisals.Prior to the 9th October, most protests within the GDRwere often of the size of that at Gethsemane Church. Therewas of course a good reason for this. The fear implementedby the SED and the Stasi had over their citizens. Calling forcivil rights was a dangerous game yet despite this, one ofthe largest protests in GDR history was being prepared.Unknown to the citizens of Leipzig at the time was just howfar their protest and courage would set in motion not justthe fall of the Berlin Wall but also of a country.Approximately 70,000 people would gather in the streets ofLeipzig. Fear of reprisals were no doubt at the back ofeveryone’s minds. The protesters in Leipzig chanted “Noviolence!” in order to avoid giving the authorities an excuseto attack. Whilst the national GDR media mentioned littleabout the events in Leipzig, the protestors knew that thestory would be big news in the West. Undercover footageand interviews soon found their way on Western newschannels.The events in Leipzig had turned the tables. Now they facedthe Stasi offices with defiance as the shadow men coweredbehind their desks. It also probably explains why the localStasi authorities did little when instructed to initiate “Day X”.The countries so called “Sword and Shield” were nowlooking blunt and damaged.Protests continued throughout the country. In order toappease the voice of the people, the SED forced ErichHonecker from office. For Honecker, the words ofGorbachev had come to fruition. However, the damage wasnow done. The hope that this would change the moodwould soon be quashed as the protests continued.In Alexanderplatz, East Berlin, on the 4th November, thebiggest demonstration against the government occurred. Itis estimated that anywhere between half a million to amillion protesters filled the area that day. Unlike like someof the other protests, this one was permitted that place bythe authorities. Televised live on East German TV, peoplefrom all over the GDR were able to witness for themselveswhat was happening. Speeches came from all parts of thespectrum. From actors, artists and civil rights campaignersto members of the ruling authorities such as Markus Wolf(former head of the East German foreign intelligenceservice) and Politburo members.The reception for the likes of Markus Wolf were particularlyuncomfortable for the authorities. Bärbel Bohley wouldlater say this of Markus Wolf’s time at the microphone:“When I saw that his hands were trembling because thepeople were booing I said to Jens Reich: We can go now,Schabowski,having notread thememo fully,simply stated:“As far as Iknow...immediately.”now it is all over. The revolution is irreversible."The revolution may have started yet no one foresaw whatwould happen next.One of the Poltiburo speakers in the 4th November wasGünter Schabowski. Like Markus Wolf, he had received a frostyreception complete with boos and jeers. Just five days after theAlexanderplatz demonstration it would be Schabowski’s pressconference that would lead to the fall of the Berlin wall.The cabinet had passed a decree on travel regulations allowingfor more freedom. Schabowski was meant to announce it atthe conference in full but didn’t completely read the memo.There was meant to be an embargo until the next day at 4amwhen the radio announcers were supposed to read out thedecree to the nation. After reading out the decree live ontelevision, Schabowski was asked:“When will that happen?”Schabowski, having not read the memo fully, simply stated: “Asfar as I know...immediately.”Recalling the event, Schabowski later said that “Hundreds,thousands of people flocked to the boarded checkpoints,where they were blocked by the guards, who didn’t know anyof this". Overwhelmed, the guards desperate for any officialorders, opened the barriers and let the people though.The GDR, only one month after celebrating its 40th birthday,had fallen without the firing of a gun but instead, a peacefulrevolution despite the desperate attempts of Honecker andMielke to hold onto power. Instead of Day X, there was a newdawn in Germany.62 INSIDE HISTORY
Photo: Sue Ream, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
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