This November marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall—a formidable structure standing at 12 feet in height and extending over 100 miles. This wall served as both a literal and symbolic barrier, separating the democratic West from the communist East. Originally erected in 1961, the wall became the most tangible representation of the Cold War and the boundary of the Iron Curtain.
To commemorate this historic event, GW is hosting a weeklong series of events, co-organized by the Global Resource Center in Gelman Library and the German faculty within the Department of Romance, German, and Slavic Languages and Literatures. The program will feature various activities, including a candlelight vigil, screenings of relevant films, panel discussions featuring ambassadors and other esteemed officials from former Eastern bloc nations, and even a “Tear Down This Wall” cake-cutting ceremony on Kogan Plaza.
