"Diary, November 13, 1989.
It really does seem to be a 'historic day' today: the Wall is gone. The streets are full of East German citizens who, after a 28 year wait, are finally able to buy their own 'Jacobs' coffee and 'Ritter-Sport' chocolate themselves. The banks are stuffed full of them, waiting in long queues to collect their 100 DM 'Welcome Money'(!). Well, they are used to waiting. Everyone is emotional and clamoring for reunification. The Wall has been reduced to an absurdity. But would it still be a historic moment if it transpired that 'the others from over there' were just as consumption-driven as we are? They are abandoning their homes, hearths and friends and making-do with accommodation in sports halls just to experience a little glamour at KaDeWe (department store) and the 'freedom of press'. Why aren’t we going to the East?"
Claudia Zundel
(21 rankings) 
