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Berlin celebrates demise of Wall Berlin celebrates demise of Wall
(40 minutes later)
World leaders are due to join thousands of people to mark 20 years since the Berlin Wall's fall, an event that paved the way for the end of the Cold War. World leaders are due to join thousands of people marking 20 years since the Berlin Wall's fall, an event that paved the way for the end of the Cold War.
The main celebrations in the city will be at the Brandenburg Gate - the symbol of German reunification in 1990.
Giant dominoes will be toppled to show how Communist governments in Eastern Europe fell one after another in 1989.
Communist East Germany erected the 155km (96-mile) concrete Wall in 1961 to encircle West Berlin.
It was put up to prevent East Germans from fleeing into the capitalist enclave.
More than 100 people are believed to have been killed at the Wall while trying to escape.
The barrier was unexpectedly opened on 9 November 1989, following weeks of pro-democracy protests.
Meanwhile, Guenter Schabowski - the former East German official whose casual public comments are widely thought to have led to the fall of the Wall - has admitted that there was a breakdown in communication with his party boss Egon Krenz about an announcement of new travel regulations for East Germans.
He told the BBC that he did not regret his so-called blunder because it led to the divided Germany being reunited peacefully.
'History alive'
Free market flawed, says survey Hewitt: Filming a revolution
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who grew up in East Germany, will lead the celebrations.German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who grew up in East Germany, will lead the celebrations.
Last week, she said the fall of the Wall was "the happiest day in recent German history". Guests including ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev will join her in walking across the first border crossing to open in 1989.
Guests including former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev - who broke with the past to allow the nations of Eastern Europe to discard communism - will join her in walking across the city's Bornholmer Bridge, the first East German border crossing to open in 1989. The barrier was unexpectedly opened after weeks of pro-democracy protests.
Among those invited are French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Communist East Germany erected the 155km (96-mile) concrete wall in 1961 to encircle West Berlin and prevent citizens from fleeing into the capitalist enclave. More than 100 people are believed to have been killed at the Wall while trying to escape.
TIMELINE 7 October 1949: German Democratic Republic (GDR) founded following World War II in the Soviet occupation zone13 August 1961: Berlin Wall built18 October 1989: After unrest across country, including demonstrations in Leipzig, Erich Honecker quits as party chief. Egon Krenz replaces himNovember 9 1989: Wall fallsMarch 18 1990: East Germans elect pro-unity governmentJuly 1 1990: East and West Germany merge economiesOctober 3 1990: East and West Germany unite Free market flawed, says survey Hewitt: Filming a revolution
The main events marking the anniversary in the city will be at the Brandenburg Gate - the symbol of German reunification in 1990.
As part of festivities, some 1,000 giant foam dominoes - painted by young people - will be toppled along the former route of the Wall, to symbolise how communist governments in Eastern Europe fell one after another in 1989.
Among those invited to join Chancellor Merkel in Berlin are French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
They will be joined by:They will be joined by:
    >
  • Former Polish President Lech Walesa, who led the Solidarity trade union against the Communist regime
  • Former Hungarian Prime Minister Miklos Nemeth, whose decision to open his country's borders first allowed East Germans to flee to the West
    >
  • former Polish President Lech Walesa, who led the Solidarity trade union against the Communist regime
  • former Hungarian Prime Minister Miklos Nemeth, whose decision to open his country's borders first allowed East Germans to flee to the West
'New push' A big concert is due to start later in the day. The festivities will be capped with fireworks and performances by musicians from across the world.
As part of festivities, some 1,000 giant foam dominoes - painted by young people - will be toppled along the former route of the Wall. Meanwhile, Guenter Schabowski - the former East German official whose casual public comments are widely thought to have led to the fall of the Wall - has admitted there had been a breakdown in communication with his party boss, Egon Krenz, about an announcement of new travel regulations for East Germans.
Foam dominoes will be toppled in front of the Brandenburg Gate He told the BBC he did not regret his so-called blunder because it had led to the divided Germany being reunited peacefully.
"History is palpable and alive here. The peaceful revolution of the fall of the Wall 20 years ago paved the way to an unprecedented transformation of Berlin," Mayor Klaus Wowereit said.
A big concert at the Brandenburg Gate is due to start later in the day.
The festivities will be capped with fireworks and performances by musicians from all over the world.
On the eve of the celebrations, Mrs Clinton called for a new push to free those still oppressed.On the eve of the celebrations, Mrs Clinton called for a new push to free those still oppressed.
"Our history did not end the night the Wall came down," she said. "Our history did not end the night the wall came down," she said.
"To expand freedom to more people, we cannot accept that freedom does not belong to all people.""To expand freedom to more people, we cannot accept that freedom does not belong to all people."
Are you in Berlin? Will you be taking part in the celebrations? Do you remember the day the Berlin Wall came down? Send us your stories using the form below.Are you in Berlin? Will you be taking part in the celebrations? Do you remember the day the Berlin Wall came down? Send us your stories using the form below.
You can also send us your pictures and videos of today's celebrations to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.You can also send us your pictures and videos of today's celebrations to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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