Lightning-Rod W. German Cop Unmasked as Stasi Spy

Dominoes, fireworks, music help mark 20 years

(NEWSER) - Hundreds of foam dominoes will fall today in Berlin, symbolizing the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has called Nov. 9, 1989, "the happiest day in recent German history," will lead the festivities. The guest list includes Hillary Clinton, Nicolas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown, and Lech Walesa. A concert at the landmark Brandenburg Gate and a fireworks display will end the celebration. More»

(NEWSER) - After many years of indifference, Berliners have started getting serious about saving what's left of the most famous symbol of the Cold War, Der Spiegel reports. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, locals viewed it as merely an unfortunate reminder of a bad past and little thought was given to preservation. Researchers believe more pieces of the wall are now overseas than still in Berlin. More»

'Snackpoint Charlie,' actors in military uniforms labeled disrespectful to dead

(NEWSER) - The Disneyfication of Cold War landmarks in Berlin has irked people with bad memories of East Germany, the Independent reports. Critics, including former Allied officers and those who suffered under oppressive rule, argue that the atmosphere around places like Checkpoint Charlie—where actors in military uniforms hustle tourists for coins and "Snackpoint Charlie" sells burgers—disrespects the memory of those who died there fleeing Communist rule. More»

Defectors stood little chance at Berlin Wall

(NEWSER) - During the Cold War, East German border police were ordered to shoot all attempted defectors, a newly discovered Stasi document confirms. “Do not hesitate with the use of a firearm, including when the border breakouts involve women and children, which the traitors have already frequently taken advantage of,” the 1973 order commands. More»

Many fear a 'Cold War Disneyland': Der Spiegel

(NEWSER) - Today marks the 50th anniversary of the start of construction on the Berlin Wall, prompting Der Spiegel to assess how Germany is handling its Cold War legacy. Answer: With kitsch, and lots of it. Entrepreneurs have found ways to capitalize, primarily in irreverent ways. They're trying everything from guided tours in junky East German cars, to cheesy checkpoint reenactments, to dressing in costume (think Darth Vader or Mickey Mouse) and posing for photographs, a la Hollywood Boulevard. In short, Berlin and what remains of its wall are in danger of becoming a "Cold War Disneyland," writes Frank Hornig. More»