This Day in German History

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Throughout the 20th century, today has turned into quite the symbolic date in German history. Not only is it the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nov. 9 has also seen many other groundbreaking events—both good and bad.

The crumbling of the concrete symbol of ideological division will of course remain the best reason to honor the day. But Germans must not, and will never, forget what the day also represents:

In 1918, the November Revolution ended the German monarchy. Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated, or rather, then-chancellor Prince Maximilian of Baden announced the abdication without the Kaiser's consent. This was immediately followed by the proclamation of the German Republic, later called the Weimar Republic—Germany's first attempt at democracy.

The young republic passed its first test when police forces quelled Adolf Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch on Nov. 9, 1923. The failed coup d'etat resulted in Hitler's imprisonment, where he wrote Mein Kampf.

Ten years later, the Nazi's gained control, and the country's darkest chapter in history began. Nov. 9, 1938 is generally acknowledged as the official start of systematic persecution and eradication of Jews and other ethnic minorities. In a coordinated attack by the SA, the SS, Hitler Youth and the Gestapo, the Nazis murdered 99 Jews while 25,000 to 30,000 were arrested, then placed in concentration camps.

Overcoming division in a peaceful way may be the greatest historical achievement of the German people. It would have been impossible, though, without the help and goodwill of our European neighbors, as well as diplomatic efforts by the United States and the Soviet Union.

The Freedom Speech

Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged those efforts during a recent speech before a joint session of Congress on Nov. 3. "We Germans know how much we owe to you, our American friends," she said. "We shall never—and I personally shall never, never forget this."

Regardless of which side of the political fence you stand on, Merkel's speech was a welcome reminder of the importance of strong US-Germany ties. It was also a rather emotional speech by a head of state who is usually known for her reserve. Not only is Merkel the first woman to lead a German government, she is also the first chancellor who grew up in the communist East.

Transatlantic relations on a local level

The anniversary and Merkel's speech also served as a perfect backdrop for a local event celebrating transatlantic relations. On Nov. 3, the Chattanooga Chapter of the German Marshall Fund commemorated its fifth anniversary with a reception and announcement of the 2010 Marshall Memorial Fellows.

One former, GMF board member and current World Bank President, Robert Zoellick, recounts his time as chief US negotiator in the 4+2 talks in 1989 between France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, the US, West and East Germany.

Bad awakening after the diplomatic success

If diplomats in Washington and Berlin thought Merkel's visit to the US went great, they woke up to a different tune just a couple of hours later. After months of negotiations and government intervention on both sides of the Atlantic, the already agreed upon deal to sell GM Europe/Opel to a consortium of investors fell through. Instead, General Motors will keep its European arm, leaving behind disgruntled politicians, union leaders, employees and executives in Germany. Most commentators agree. While GM may have played foul, the German side failed to know how to play at all.

The fall of the Berlin Wall on the web:

• The night the wall fell


• The day the Berlin Wall fell (picture gallery)


• 20 years on, Berlin celebrates


• The Berlin Wall—then & now (picture gallery)


• The inner-German Iron Curtain—then & now (picture gallery)


• Germany's—and the world's—lucky day


• "Nov. 9, 1989 could so easily have ended in bloodshed"


• "German unity is still incomplete"


• Hillary Clinton, takes aim at "the walls of the 21st century."

German-American business news:

• General Electric CEO has nothing but praise for the German economy and its high proportion of manufactured exports in an interview with weekly Zeit.


• Bradley County: Wacker Chemie AG, posted third quarter results.


• More German jobs will come to the Chattanooga area in connection with Moll Systems.


• German utility company RWE is examining a possible entry into the U.S. biomass market.


• Neutron scientists from the German city of Jülich inaugurated a unique large-scale research device, a neutron spin echo spectrometer, in Oak Ridge, Tenn.


• How Germany avoided mass unemployment during the economic crisis.

Christian Höferle is a German-American entrepreneur living in Cleveland, Tenn. He is the founder of Höferle Consulting.