09 世界自由日 World Freedom Day

World Freedom Day is a celebration started by former U.S. President George W. Bush. It commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The tearing down of the Berlin Wall was the beginning of the end for communist rule in many parts of Europe. Bush started it in 2003 and made it an official American holiday, although people still go to work. Bush said: “After dividing families, friends, and communities for 28 years, the dismantling of the Berlin Wall reunited Germany and helped spread freedom across Central and Eastern Europe.” President Bush explained the importance of this day, saying: “The United States is committed to liberty, freedom, and the universal struggle for human rights. We strive to advance peace and democracy.”

The Berlin Wall was put up by the former German Democratic Republic (known as East Germany) after WWII. It completely surrounded West Berlin, which was controlled by America and its allies. It was the start of what became known as the Iron Curtain. The wall was the physical symbol of the Cold War between Eastern Europe and the West. Throughout 1989, there was a lot of social unrest in East Germany. Citizens called for freedom. On November the 9th, 1989, the East German government said people could visit West Berlin. Thousands of East Germans climbed onto and crossed the wall. They started to break it down with hammers. The fall of the Berlin Wall led to the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990.