Wednesday, March 26, 2014

1990 World Cup and November 9, 1989


            The 1990 World Cup was the second time that it was held in Italy.  It was a very big deal for the Germans due to the fact it was the last time a German team would represent a divided Germany, because the country was unified later that year.  Also the World Cup was a big deal because West Germany won the world cup.  Which would be their third World Cup Title.  Also the East German team took part in these games and that was also the last time that that team took part in the World Cup.  Both teams then got absorbed into one another to form one unified German team.

            November 9, 1989 is a day that changed European history.  By all accounts this day wasn’t supposed to be a big day in history but thanks to an unprepared spokesperson by the name of Guenter Schabowski, this day made history books.  On this day Guenter Schabowski was giving a press conference when all of a sudden an Italian reporter asked when the new legislation would be passed to allow citizens free travel between the East and West.  He is reported to have said, “"As far as I know, that goes into effect now, immediately."  This statement opened up the floodgates to the city and thousands of citizens rushed to the border to get the West side.  The unprepared guards made repeated calls to their superiors to find out what they should do.  The guards held off the people for three hours before letting them go through the wall.  This little blunder in a press conference was all the people needed to rush the borders and take one step closer to becoming reunified.


Source:http://www.dw.de/november-9-1989-the-day-that-changed-european-history/a-4867139-1

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