One can’t help noticing economic data fromtwo years before
the Berlin
Wall fell.The former DDR states had a
gross domestic product only 20 percent of that enjoyed
in Western
Germany. Four years later,
and two years after the wall fell, it grew to 40 percent. Today, it
stands at 70 percent.
What is attempting to be established here is how long it takes to rebuild an economy after it was gutted by tyranny. For decades, resources that could have been utilised by the East Germans to bring happiness and prosperity were diverted to prop up the machinery of state.
Just before the wall fell, there were around a 100,000 Stasi agents. That is one per every 150 East German residents. The name Ulrike Poppe came to mind. She was a determined 20 something year old woman that the government didn’t like. She had a file of at least 60 binders that revealed while putting every minute of her life under surveillance.
The number of people who had perished trying to pursue freedom in the West has been estimated to be more than 600, yet less than 800. It was just before the fall of the Berlin Wall when a family of four was shot down in mid air by Stasi agents attempting to duplicate the successful escape of the Balloon family few years earlier. Even the family’s dog was gunned down after their lives were taken. This was done to impose a single belief upon the entire population. There were people who were ruthlessly murdered for attempting to better their lives.
Even though this was 20 years, there is this desire to control others. It is still omnipresent today in places like North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Freedom remains elusive and at risk for millions.
Today, 9 November, 2009 is a day to honour those who suffered under the boot of Soviet style tyranny. The resolve of many East Germans who perished in order to make their lives, and helped forged the reunification of that nation shall be remembered.
