Günter Schabowski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Günter Schabowski
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Schabowski in 1982
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| Member of the Politburo | |
| In office 3 March 1984 – 6 December 1989 |
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| Member of the Volkskammer | |
| In office 25 June 1981 – 18 March 1990 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 January 1929 Anklam, Pomerania, Prussia, Germany |
| Died | 1 November 2015 (aged 86) Berlin, Germany |
| Political party | Socialist Unity Party of Germany (1952-1989) |
| Spouse | Irina |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Leipzig |
| Profession | Politician, Journalist |
| Signature |  |
Günter Schabowski (born 4 January 1929 – died 1 November 2015) was an important politician in East Germany. He was a member of the ruling party, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). He became famous around the world in November 1989. This happened because of a small mistake he made during a press conference.
His words made people think they could travel freely right away. This led to huge crowds gathering at the Berlin Wall that very night. Because of this, the Berlin Wall had to be opened after 28 years. Soon after, the entire border between East and West Germany was opened too.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Schabowski was born in Anklam, a town in Pomerania, Germany. He studied journalism at the Karl Marx University in Leipzig. After his studies, he became an editor for a magazine called Tribüne, which was for trade unions.
In 1952, he joined the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). This was the main political party in East Germany. He later became the chief editor of Neues Deutschland (New Germany). This newspaper was the official voice of the SED party. In 1985, he became a top leader for the SED in East Berlin. He also served as a member of the Volkskammer, which was East Germany's parliament.
The Berlin Wall Opens
In October 1989, many leaders in the SED party, including Schabowski, decided that the longtime leader, Erich Honecker, should step down. Egon Krenz took his place. To make the government look better, Schabowski became the official spokesman. He held daily press conferences to share new information.
On 9 November 1989, Schabowski was given a note with new travel rules. These rules said that East German citizens could apply to travel outside the country more easily. They could also move to West Germany through any border crossing, including those in Berlin. The plan was for these rules to start the next morning.
Schabowski had not been there when these rules were fully discussed. But he felt ready to talk about them at the press conference. He read the note aloud at the end of the meeting. A reporter then asked when the new rules would begin. Schabowski thought they would start right away. He paused for a moment and then said: "As far as I know... effective immediately, without delay."
This answer was shown on West German television, which many East Germans watched. The news spread very quickly. Thousands of people in East Berlin started going to the six border crossings along the Berlin Wall. They demanded to be let through.
The crowds were much larger than the border guards. The guards tried to wait, but no one wanted to use force against the people. Finally, at 11:30 PM, an officer named Harald Jäger decided to open the gates at the Bornholmer Straße crossing. People were then allowed into West Berlin.
The opening of the Berlin Wall was a huge moment. It led to the end of the East German government. Many of Schabowski's colleagues were surprised by what he said. Some even thought he might have been working for West Germany. However, his wife later said he knew what might happen when he spoke.
After these events, Schabowski was removed from the party. This was an effort to improve the party's image.
Life After East Germany
After Germany became one country again, Günter Schabowski became very critical of his own actions in East Germany. He also criticized the actions of other leaders and the Soviet-style government. He went back to working as a journalist. From 1992 to 1999, he was an editor for a local newspaper called Heimat-Nachrichten.
He supported the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), a different political party. Because of this, some of his old friends called him a "wryneck" (Wendehals). This German word describes a bird that can turn its head almost all the way around. It was a popular term for communists who changed their views to support capitalism.
Later Years and Death
In his last years, Schabowski lived in a nursing home in Berlin. He had several heart attacks and strokes. He passed away in Berlin on 1 November 2015, at the age of 86, after a long illness.
See also
In Spanish: Günter Schabowski para niños
