As the 20th century approached its conclusion, an event of extraordinary historical importance unfolded against the backdrop of Berlin, a city divided for decades. On November 9, 1989, a mere five days after a massive assembly of half a million individuals in East Berlin for a collective protest, the once-imposing Berlin Wall, which had long separated communist East Germany from its western counterpart, crumbled before the eyes of the world. This marked the conclusion of an era and the commencement of a new chapter in global history.
The objective of the photo story, titled “The Fall of the Berlin Wall” is to encapsulate the unfiltered emotions, the jubilation, and the unwavering spirit of the people as they bore witness to the dismantling of the iconic barrier that had kept East and West Berlin apart for nearly three decades.
“The news became bigger and bigger and soon thousands of East Germans were crowding at the crossing points to West Berlin and slowly crossing over. The news became international and major broadcast stations began to show the crossings. The soldiers, who previously had had orders to shoot anyone attempting to cross, put their guns down. People began climbing onto the walls and no one did anything to them,” describes Hornback when reflecting on that historic day. Photos: David Hornback.
