Product Details

• Actors: Gert Heidenreich, Martin Seifert, Thomas Vogt, Liane Dammenheyn, James Baker III
• Directors: Gunther Scholz, Hans-Hermann Hertle
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Henstooth Video
• VHS Release Date: November 21, 2000
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B00004Z4SC
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,768 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On November 9, 1989, the world watched as the Berlin Wall, long a symbol of the stark and dangerous divide between the communist East and democratic West, suddenly and shockingly faded into history. People flocked to border that had divided the city and passed through what had always been the "death strip," and as the world watched on live television, people climbed atop the wall and began to literally chip it away. This German-produced documentary details the events of that momentous night, using interviews with German politicians, ordinary citizens, and international journalists, including NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw, who was on the scene, broadcasting the event to a surprised audience in the United States. Those who attended critical meetings describe how the leaders of East Germany wanted to relax the border to some extent, but wound up relaxing much more than anyone could have expected. West German officials recall hearing that the border was being opened and thinking it just couldn't be possible. The spontaneity of events is dramatically captured in contemporaneous video footage shot on the streets of East Berlin, as news filtered out to the public and people began rushing to the wall. This is a fascinating and intelligent look at a day that came to symbolize enormous changes as the cold war wound down to an end. --Robert J. McNamara

Product Description

Berlin, November 9, 1989. Thousands of people break through the border checkpoints of the divided city. The so-called "death strip" has lost its horror. East and West Berliners dance on the Wall and chip it away with hammers and chisels throughout the night. The most famous symbol of the Cold War crumbles as the world watches on live television...

This compelling documentary shows what really happened during those perilous, pivotal hours. General Secretary Gorbachev and President Bush; the French and the British governments; Chancellor Kohl and General Secretary Krenz; foreign secretaries, ministers and high-ranking officers from both sides (some speaking out for the first time), along with journalists such as NBC News Correspondent Tom Brokaw, describe first-hand what occurred behind the scenes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent. Very informative and interesting., August 4, 2008

By	anonymous "anonymous" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Good historical insights and information. The key players are interviewed. Amazingly, the decisions that led up to the wall coming down were nothing but mistakes. A minister released information at a press conference that he wasn't supposed to release -- that's what set it in motion. This is a fascinating and interesting documentary.