and just 2 kilometers away alexanderplatz but in many had mono will be officially launching the festival week and that is where our chief political correspondent melinda crane is standing by for us melinda what is happening today. well the mayor will inaugurate to this commemoration of the fall of the berlin wall it's being billed as you said as a festival celebration but in fact as you can probably discern it's a little bit more understated than that behind me is a stage where there will be performances also as soon as it is fully dark there will be projections of historic events on the buildings all around me and this commemoration is being called 7 days 7 places which is basically in recognition of the fact that although most of us think of the moment of the peaceful revolution here in germany that ended the division of the country as the 9th of november when the berlin wall actually fell in fact the revolution was a sequence of events over a period of weeks or even months and one of the absolute milestones of that sequence occurred right here 30 years ago when a massive demonstration

and joining me now is our chief political correspondent linda crane she is at alexanderplatz good evening to you melinda is it possible for the events that we're seeing today to truly represent those events those fateful events of 30 years ago. well certainly you can see the stirring images behind me that are in maine to do just that the mayor talked today about the courage of the protesters who gathered here on this day 30 years ago saying it can be and should be a shining example to all of us to fight against exclusion and for justice in every way possible and i think that pretty much captures the tone of this weeklong commemoration of germany's peaceful revolution it's not a try young full tone even though this is being billed as a festival and a celebration but very much one of thoughtful reflection and that manifests itself in the schedule 2000 different events ranging from installations and images like the ones you're seeing behind me to performances and many different discussions also involving aspects of your unification that were difficult and that were painful now the whole is c

and just 2 kilometers away alexanderplatz but in many mila will be officially launching the festival week and that is where our chief political correspondent melinda crane is standing by for us melinda good to see you what exactly is happening that today. well i'm here at alexanderplatz which is in the very heart of east berlin and is a nationally known landmark nearly as famous for example as the brandenburg gate and that is one of the reasons why the city has chosen this spot to inaugurate that weeklong commemoration that you mentioned it's going to include art installations it will be opened in about an hour by the mayor on the stage that you may be able to discern behind me after that here at alexander plots we will see major projections of historic scenes 30 years ago on the buildings all around me we'll see performances installations lectures and more now this commemoration is entitled 7 days 7 places which is basically a recognition of the fact that although we tend to think of the night of november the night that the wall fell as the day that east germany's or that the divisi

in the east with this large demonstration on alexanderplatz with speakers from the communist regime vowing to change that change was possible within that structure and nobody there had any inkling that only 5 days later the war would fall so coming today here we are now in the united germany there are still political divisions between the former east and west and some say very increasing why. well there are political and economic divisions and i think those are catching up with german politics i mean we more than just one hint at the far right a 50 which is particularly strong in those eastern states i don't think there is a simple answer to this and nobody's really claiming that but let me just throw a couple of numbers at you 90 percent of germans polled just last week believe that german reunification was a good thing to happen and yet almost half of east germans still feel like they're being treated as 2nd class citizens that doesn't sound like a united country it isn't it is technically on many levels but there's still a lot of catching up to do and there's a lot of talking and

our chief political correspondent linda crane she has been following today's events from alexanderplatz and she sent us this. the commemoration isn't titled 7 days 7 places in recognition of the fact that although we think about the peaceful revolution as having occurred when the berlin wall fell on november 9th in fact it was a journey that took months if not longer and that took in many different parts of eastern germany this square was an absolute milestone along that path let's take a look back at what happened here in november $989.00 the exodus of people leaving east germany reached a peak those who decided to stay demanded more freedom more than half a 1000000 staged a mass protest on east berlin alexanderplatz the largest demonstration in the history of east germany this is. how it's as if someone has pushed open the window of a of the years of intellectual economic and political stagnation. of the haitian leaders years reeking of apathy 2 years of double speak and bureaucratic despotism but your coffee shop is here the communist regime had subtly and publicly lost all support b

linda gray berlin's alexanderplatz melinda thank you. into the middle east now at least 5 people have been killed in the iraqi capital baghdad after security forces opened fire on anti-government protesters thousands of iraqis have been taking part in the country's largest protest wave in decades fueled by anger over corruption high unemployment and poor public services the united nations is calling tonight for deescalation and for talks between the government and demonstrators. here at the mass funeral soon became a raging protest. with blood and so we will sacrifice for you they chanted on the streets of college to die to avenge 3 men who died last night during clashes with pro-government militia in the shiite holy city in the shade but the son is a hero he was carrying only theories nothing else but the praise. militias attacked us and killed us and they set you walking. and in the capital baghdad they rallied to remember those victims to demonstrate is surging out of their protest camp on top 3 square and towards the heavily guarded

or much of that history was made on berlin's world famous alexanderplatz and that is where my colleague that we use chief political correspondent linda crane is this monday evening good evening to you that say full week of change started right there where you ward talk to me tell our viewers about what happened there 30 years ago today. well a group of prominent actors theater directors artists members of church groups academics students some of them very very prominent well known others less so had wanted for some time to hold a protest and they actually did something very unusual in these german history they went to the authorities and asked for a permit and they got one absolutely unique for that for that regime at that time and nonetheless when they assembled here on that day november 4th 1989 they could not know how many people would show up and they also could not know how the authorities would react there had impact been violent police intervention at protests and i've seen elsewhere a month before and so many questions were open as they gathered here in fact between 500008 10000

down paving the way for all of the german reunification to get the details from our correspondent at alexanderplatz also coming up. a human rights watchdog accuses u.s. backed special forces in afghanistan committing war crimes and other atrocities during their operations is calling for the units to be disbanded st. i'm told me a lot of well welcome to the program. germany has started a week of celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall which happened on the 9th of november 1989 a few days earlier hundreds of thousands of east germans had gathered at butlins famous alexanderplatz from unprecedented demonstration calling for freedom and expression of democracy here's more. history flashing before their eyes sisto since returned to berlin cyclonic alexandre plots to mark the moment that would help change the city and the country forever nov 4th 1989 more than half a 1000000 protesters descended on the square and what would become the largest demonstration in the history of east germany led by some of its most prominent intellectuals they rose up to demand more freedoms f

for the 5 minutes ever saw was allotted to me i had to look at it and open exit machine yesterday at alexanderplatz just on that specific demonstration the mood from the pictures i could see that looked electric yes the population was was happy it was common of all but those who spoke you must realize that we were the most diverse politically oriented people and looked at where enclosed in sort of coral like like mass things that go out to their odio afterwards and and there were people who were not your friends anyway only part of them the others where where the communist leaders sitting around having coffee. it was a very very intimidating in a way since an interesting one to ever scared that the army might move in because at that point the communist regime was still trying to contain these protests yeah that was real danger and it was not sure that even weeks later it wasn't sure that they would not strike back at some occasion and we're very eager not to trigger the military action from the soviet troops which half a 1000000 soldiers were after all in germany and around the linn so one had to b

history flashed before their eyes as thousands returned to prelims iconic alexanderplatz to mark their moment that would help change the city and the country forever. we want to make it possible to relive what happened back then and also the developments since then the road hasn't always been smooth over the last 30 years but we succeeded at something we can live together without a wall in peace and freedom in feeding on fire on november 4th 1909 more than half a 1000000 protesters descended on the square staging what would become the largest demonstration in the history of east germany led by some of its most prominent intellectuals they rose up to demand more freedom. as is. this is if someone has pushed open the window. after years of intellectual economic and political stock a nation. trough the. years reeking of apathy 4 years of double speak and bureaucratic despotism. but still cut short is. the communist regime had rapidly and publicly lost all support but even then no one predicted that just 5 days later the berlin wall would fall. this week the spirit of the peaceful revoluti

but that changed in 1989 because you took pot in the biggest protests that essentially had feed on alexanderplatz 5 days before the warfare you spoke to tell us what was it like. i felt awkward then and there and. when you address a crowd of 500000 people and you hear every word you say dozen times coming back from from overwhelming loudspeakers and you didn't know whether to to speak more slowly or more quickly and more loudly and well and that i slip of paper and just looked at it and tended to say something important for for the 5 minutes i was or was allotted to me i had to look at it and open exit machine yesterday at alexanderplatz just on that specific demonstration the mood from the pictures i could see that looked electric yes the population was was happy it was common of all but those who spoke you must realize that we were the most diverse politically oriented people and looked at where enclosed in sort of coral like like boston it's that go out to their odio off the road scent and there were people who were not your friends anyway only part of them the others where where the communist

anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall on the 9th of november 19th 89 a lot show at the famous alexanderplatz kicked off a week of celebrations in the capital. german chancellor angela merkel has attended the launch of volkswagens id 3 billed as its 1st fully electric car for the masses michael says her government wants germany.

had been demonstrations calling for reform but the wall coming down to everyone by surprise like at alexanderplatz on the 4th of november that was a huge demonstration and i think people did begin to recover begin to realize that the game was almost up for the communist regime in east germany just a couple of days later i was actually in the bath on the afternoon of the 9th of november not thinking that it could catch possibly happen on that day or any day close and the people i was living with came home and said out of the bath the wall is coming down so i know i've never read myself down so quickly and found myself in believing strasser one of the crossing points where the wall actually opens up into east berlin and where i was right at the front with a group of friends of mine journalists and there were some people in front of us they were shaking on the wall the marmo spectum our most work the wall has to go the wall has to go and then right in front of my very eye is the fence that they have been or the big heavy gate with these german border guards left and right watching what was going on p

if a 1000000 and a 1000000 people gathered at the city's alexanderplatz right underneath the iconic t.v. tower the party leaders knew they had to do something they had to make some kind of big concession for the protesters and that's exactly what was being discussed here 30 years ago what could they give to the protesters what they came up with was a relaxation in travel regulations which is a huge deal just imagine the east germans haven't been able to for decades go over to the west so people in this building they were preparing for a press conference what would happen at that press conference didn't exactly go quite to plan but it would lead to the full of the berlin wall. w.'s racial steerage giving us some history at the site of the public piro the former head quarters of the east german companies government we thank you very much indeed. and special coverage continues with documentaries on live events including a concert at berlin's iconic brandenburg gate that's coming up later in the day and you can also find more information on all of our coverage just go to devalue dot com for

november 1989 a few days earlier hundreds of thousands of east germans had gathered at butlins famous alexanderplatz for an unprecedented demonstration calling for freedom of expression and democracy has more. history flashing before their eyes as dowsers returned to berlin psychotic alex sun the plot to mark the moment that would help change the city and the country forever nov 4th 1989 more than half a 1000000 protesters descended on the square and what would become the largest demonstration in the history of east germany led by some of its most prominent intellectuals they rose up to demand more freedoms from the oppressive regime. it's as if someone has pushed open the window. of 2 years of intellectual economic and political stagnation shelf they can believe the year is reeking of apathy. is of double speak and bureaucratic despotism will cut short if. the communist regime had rapidly and publicly lost all support but even then no one predicted that just 5 days later their berlin wall would fall. this week the spirit of the peaceful revolution once more lighting up the city like this giant wave

30th anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall on the 9th of november 1989 a light show of the famous alexanderplatz kicked off a week of celebrations in the capital.

down paving the way for all of the german reunification to get the details from our correspondent at alexanderplatz also coming up. a human rights watchdog accuses u.s. backed special forces in afghanistan committing war crimes and of atrocities during their operations is calling for the units to be disbanded street.

she is at alexanderplatz. is it possible for the events we are seeing today to truly represent those events, those fateful events of 30 years ago? >> well, certainly, you can see this during images behind me that are aiming to do just that. the mayor talked today about the courage of the protesters who gathered on this day 30 years ago saying, eight can be and should be a shining example to all of us to fight against exclusion and for justice in every way possible. i think that pretty much capturures the tone of the weeklong commemoration of germany's peaceful revolution. it is not a triumphant tone. even though this is being billed as a festival and celebration. very much one of thoughtful reflection. the whole is called seven days, seven places. that essentially is a tribute to the fact that the revolution did not occur on one day on the ninth of november when the wall fell. it was a process over weeks and months. it is a process that is not even finished yet. it was a process in which this square played a h

germany has begun a week of events to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the burn in war at alexanderplatz in eastern berlin a light show recalled the huge pro-democracy demonstration that took place 5 days before the border was opened. is the news from berlin for more followers on twitter d w news or visit our website dot com. and don't forget you can always get news on the go just download all up from google play all from the top story will give you access to all the latest news from around the world as well as push notifications to any breaking news you can also use the top to send us photos and videos you think we will find interesting. coming up next a kickoff for the reaction from the borders legal match day 10 excluding morning but in a dog we don't forget you can always get the latest news on our web site e.w. dot com i'm going to hold free and ballot next your campaign until you see the bit . odd. because. i wrote since the power play in the berlin germany. and poland against our. devastating loss for byron and nikko khobar towers. outclasses in a 5 to one. can. discover your conc

germany has begun a week of events to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall at alexanderplatz in eastern berlin a light show recalled the huge pro-democracy demonstration that took place 5 days before the border was finally oh. this is it d w news from berlin for more you can always follow us on twitter at g.w. news or you can visit our website w dot com. you're watching the w. news live from berlin coming up next kick off with all the action from the bundesliga match dainton i'll be back at the top of the hour with more world news followed by the day to see of the. law. because. i wrote texts instead of columns playing in the berlin germany. now banned from the best town subsists the devastating loss for byron and nico colebatch is our. outclasses name in a 5 to one speaks. their wealth isn't calculable. their egos insatiable. their rivalry deadly. the 3 princes. all of whom dream of leading the arab world. the rival princes of gold starts november 27th on d w. 2 your front dear antonio to cecilia yes my 3 grandchildren sleep on troubled when i was in france is ages germany w

germany has begun a week of events to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the earth in walnut alexanderplatz eastern berlin a light show called the huge totem ocracy demonstration of the place 5 days before the wall was opened. this is the news from berlin for more follow us on twitter at g.w. news or visit our website that's d w dot com. no forget you can always get news on the go just download our app from google player from the app store and that will give you access to all the latest news from around the world as well as push notifications for any breaking news you can also use that app to send us your photos and your video. watching the news live from berlin coming up next business with monica jones and don't forget all the latest news information around the clock available on our website www dot com i'm com aspen thanks washington. to go for pyrotechnics instead of college playing in the berlin germany. just tell. the devastating loss for byron and nikko colbert is our. work out class is not going to do one big. double. counting. just cover your concept. cover. to 100 lives the ideals

near alexanderplatz. they were marginalized community. with moments of distinct pride. and small prayer rooms tucked away behind in conspicuous stores. these kind of lovers and porcelain figures belonged to the iranian burger stross a synagogue. in november 943 bombs dropped in a british air raid cause severe damage not just to the dome what had been germany's largest synagogue was critically hit. 15 years later authorities of communist east germany had the main synagogue and central prayer room the very heart of the structure demolished. to this day only an outline in the void recalls the beauty last. the summer of 857 acclaimed architect ed ward can open is that his wits and for years he's been discussing plans for the new synagogue the jewish community the old one is too small but how do they expect him to align the prayer halls toward jerusalem on this crooked plot of land and why not design it in the fashionable morrish style. germany's jewish community wants a magnificent building but it's also wary of provoking resentment. how can you square the circle. that time

anniversary of the full of the berlin wall on the 9th of november 19th 89 a light show at the famous alexanderplatz kicked off a week of celebrations in the capital. german chancellor angela merkel has attended the launch of volkswagens id 3 billed as its 1st fully electric car for the masses local says her government wants germany to have 1000000 charging stations by 2030 to encourage people to make the switch. delhi has declared a public health emergency after air pollution reached record levels schools are being closed and half of the city's cars are being banned from taking to the roads each day. in lebanon protesters demanding political reform have blocked roads across the capital by route after 2 weeks of protests against the political system thousands of supporters have now gathered to show solidarity with president michel. this is the news from berlin for more you can follow us on twitter at de w. news over his at our website that's d w dot com. on this day exactly 30 years ago in the heart of east berlin about 3 kilometers from where i'm standing the world witnessed the 1st irreparable inv