A Berlin Wall survivor reflects on its rise, fall, and fading memory

He stood at Checkpoint Charlie the night before history changed. Now, as the Wall’s last remnants fade, one man fights to keep its lessons alive for those who never knew division.

, and Administrator

2025 November 8 . 5:21 AM

1 min read

At the bottom of the image there is a road with cars and a bus. Behind them there are buildings... — At the bottom of the image there is a road with cars and a bus. Behind them there are buildings with walls, windows, dish and roofs. And also there are posters and banners to the walls. There is a pole with streetlight.

Wansner: I Cried When the Wall Fell - A Berlin Wall survivor reflects on its rise, fall, and fading memory

Kurt Wansner, a prominent figure in the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has witnessed the Berlin Wall's rise and fall firsthand. Now serving as the Father of the House at the Berlin House of Representatives, he reflects on the wall's impact and the struggle of younger generations to comprehend its significance.

Wansner was just 13 when the Berlin Wall was constructed in 1961. Living near the wall as a teenager, he felt its constant presence shaping his life and separating him from loved ones. He recalls standing at Checkpoint Charlie the night before its fall, only to witness its collapse the following day. The emotional moment left him cheering and teary-eyed, seeing people from the East cross over.

Today, a remnant of the Berlin Wall stands outside the Berlin House of Representatives, where Wansner works. This 70-meter-long piece, complete with border strip and watchtower, serves as a poignant reminder at Bernauer Straße. Yet, Wansner regrets that more of the wall was not preserved, lamenting the younger generation's struggle to envision the wall's reality.

Kurt Wansner's personal journey with the Berlin Wall, from its construction to its fall, offers a unique perspective on Germany's divided past. As the wall's remnants continue to stand, so too does the importance of preserving history to educate future generations.