Document Type
Opinion
Publication Date
11-7-2014
Department 1
History
Abstract
When the Berlin Wall fell 25 years ago, on Nov. 9, 1989, symbolically signaling the end of the Cold War, it was no surprise that many credited President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev for bringing it down.
But the true heroes behind the fall of the Berlin Wall are those Eastern Europeans whose protests and political pressure started chipping away at the wall years before. East German citizens from a variety of political backgrounds and occupations risked their freedom in protests against communist policies and one-party rule in what they called the "peaceful revolution." [excerpt]
Copyright Note
This is the publisher's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution.
Recommended Citation
Bowman, William D. "Heroes of Berlin Wall Struggle." Philly.com (November 7, 2014).
Required Publisher's Statement
Original version is available on Philly.com at: http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20141107_Heroes_of_Berlin_Wall_struggle.html
Included in
Cultural History Commons, Diplomatic History Commons, Eastern European Studies Commons, European History Commons, Military History Commons, Political History Commons, Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons, Social History Commons, Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies Commons