The Wall came to symbolise the division of Europe
Published:
14 August 2001 y., Tuesday
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has led commemorations in Germany marking the 40th anniversary of the building of Berlin Wall.
The anniversary, however, has been marred by a row over the failure of the ex-communist Party of Democratic Socialism [PDS] to apologise for the deaths of the East Germans killed as they tried to escape.
About 1,000 people are believed to have lost their lives trying to escape to the West during the wall's 28-year existence, some 250 at the wall itself.
Groups representing those who suffered under the former East German regime used the occasion to protest at the prospect of the PDS returning to power in the city's government.
In a televised address, German President Johannes Rau called the building of the wall by the East German Government "a crime against their own people".
Construction of the wall hurriedly began on the morning of 13 August, 1961, in an attempt by East Germany's communist rulers to stop the tide of people fleeing to West Berlin. Protected by armed guards under orders to shoot on sight, the 106km (67 mile) wall set the division of Europe in stone and became a hated symbol of communist repression.
Šaltinis:
BBC News
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Preparations for the traditional Mexican Day of the Dead get underway in Mexico City as residents erect alters and bake bread for the deceased.
more »
In three resolutions adopted in Strasbourg on Thursday, the European Parliament restates its solidarity with O. Orlov, a member of the Russian human rights organization Memorial and winner of the 2009 EP Sakharov Prize, who is now facing trial, denounces the imprisonment of Cambodian opposition leader S. Rainsy and calls on Zimbabwe's President R. Mugabe to put an end to the threat of mass forced evictions.
more »
Marrying diligent driver behaviour, quality road infrastructure and sound vehicles for safer roads across Europe.
more »
A group of journalism students in Moscow pose semi-naked for a steamy calendar wishing Russia's prime minister a happy birthday.
more »
In the EU27 in 2008, 20% of women and 32% of men aged 25 to 34 lived with at least one of their parents.
more »
“Vertical” health funds targeting specific diseases such as AIDS, malaria or TB have achieved some success, but only at the cost of draining resources from basic “horizontal” health infrastructure such as clinics.
more »
This autumn, the 2010 European Job Days give jobseekers a chance to meet employers from all over Europe, and find out about working in other EU countries through seminars and workshops.
more »
During his visit to New York, on 27 September at the City University of New York, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs A. Ažubalis, opened a photography exhibition dedicated to the Lithuanian Jewish cultural heritage and conferred an award of Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on former Executive Director of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.
more »
The 26th of September marks the European Day of Languages. Perhaps the Knights of the Order of St John in the Middle Ages prided themselves about the fact that they had eight “langues” but Parliament does better with its daily “Headlines” on its website in 22 languages.
more »
A proposed new plan focuses on closing the pay gap and opening up company boardrooms to more women. Tackling domestic violence is also a top priority.
more »