The news as it happened.
The Berlin Wall
The opening of the Berlin Wall and the East German crisis, November 1989
Start from the beginning Subscribe to this series
One issue each morning, starting with Tuesday, November 7, 1989.
- Tuesday, November 7, 1989East German Cabinet resigns as protests spreadEast Germany’s entire Cabinet resigns but stays on as caretaker, after hundreds of thousands marched on Monday night and thousands more kept leaving through Czechoslovakia.
- Wednesday, November 8, 1989East German Politburo resigns; Dresden party chief Modrow nominated premierEast Germany’s entire Politburo resigned today and was cut to 11 members as the Central Committee confirmed Egon Krenz and nominated Hans Modrow as premier. Thousands had marched for free elections, and the flight west went on.
- Thursday, November 9, 1989East Germany drops travel restrictions; thousands go to the WallEast Germany said tonight its citizens may leave through every border crossing, including into West Berlin. By late evening about 1,000 had crossed at Bornholmer Strasse, while at Checkpoint Charlie East Berliners were told to wait until Friday.
- Friday, November 10, 1989Berliners pour through the Wall; eight new crossings promisedEast Berliners crossed into the West by the thousand through the night and all day Friday, as border guards began chipping at the Wall and the Interior Ministry promised eight new crossings.
- Saturday, November 11, 1989100,000 East Germans cross into West Berlin, and most go homeThey came, they looked, they went home: about 100,000 East Germans crossed into West Berlin on Friday and most returned, as East Germany cut new holes in the Wall and promised free elections.
