On a day of anniversaries, the Germans celebrated 20 years of the reunification of the states which had been divided for thirty five years by a repressive Soviet government and later, by their own leaders.
I took the above picture a mere 3 years before reunification near Coburg, Germany.
From an Associated Press article;
He said their chants of “we are one people” as communism crumbled awoke “a national feeling that was long buried, for understandable historical reasons” after the Nazi era.
“Now, a new self-confidence has grown in all of Germany, an uninhibited patriotism, an open commitment to our country, which is aware of its great responsibility for the past,” Wulff said in a speech in the western city of Bremen, which hosted this year’s main anniversary event.
You’re welcome.
More exclusive (to This Ain’t Hell) pictures of US soldiers patrolling the East German border here and here.
I was with a maintenance unit with the 2ACR in the early 80’s, and got to “tour the border”, but not allowed to take pictures (might provoke an international incident . . . ).
Thank you for your pictures. They do bring back the memories.
AS long as the Germans aren’t singing the “Horst Wessel” lied, I’m cool with pretty much whatever they want to do.
I was in Germany from 86-89…had an uncle that patroled the border from 1948-1951….thank goodness things have changed.
After discharge from the AF I worked for 2 Swiss companies for 24 years. To say they weren’t happy with the German reunification is an understatement. The people I was associated with were leery that Germany might revert to the “old” ways. Hopefully their fears have been proven wrong.
Unfortunately I never got to serve in Germany. My unit was supposed to swap out with the 3rd ACR and it never happened because of reunification. I was looking forward to going to Germany as my Dad’s side of the family was from there. I love these old photos….