The world often feels gripped by division, with headlines dominated by conflict, polarisation, and a sense of hopelessness. But history reminds us that even in times of profound uncertainty, moments of hope can emerge. The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 was one such event, a seismic shift that symbolised the end of the Cold War and the rekindling of hope for millions. It was a moment that shattered literal and metaphorical barriers and, 35 years on, I reflect on the experience of Varsity reporters that flew out to Berlin to witness this monumental occasion.

Varsity reporters noted the euphoric atmosphere of Berlin in the days following the fall of the wall. While there was uncertainty as to the future and what the opening of the gates in the city meant for East and West Berliners, there was near-universal celebration; one young German stated that it was “like a massive street party” and that “there are people who haven’t been to sleep for three days” who took part in the jubilation. An American soldier aptly commented on the event by describing it as a “geo-political earthquake”.

“There was near-universal celebration; one young German stated that it was ‘like a massive street party’”

Indeed, this “earthquake” drew in people from all over the world to experience the sense of freedom that had gripped Berlin; one traveller was ex-Labour Foreign Minister Denis Healey, who granted Varsity a brief and impromptu interview as he bumped into our reporters. Criticising the contemporary government’s “inadaquete” response to the unfolding events, Mr Healey commented that he felt “full of beans” and that he’d “never been happier”. Also cheery and chatty were a group of students from Kent who told Varsity that they had travelled to the city in order to see “history in the making”. With the consequences of the wall coming down not obvious, it was at least clear that it was a momentous occasion.

One British military policeman offered his thoughts to Varsity as the reporters gathered by the Brandenburg gate. In true British fashion, he complained about the East German guards’ “bureaucratic hang-ups” that could be “a real pain” and commented that his work day was going to become much easier without the faff of border paperwork.

This policeman did say that, despite the cumbersome papers, he travelled into East Berlin often — interestingly, for shopping. Apparently, given that most East Berliners could not afford luxury goods, one could find some “good bargains if you shop around”, as the price was lower than West Berlin due to the lack of demand. The interviewee noted that the only people who could afford the luxury goods were the top-ranking party officials and believed that the class structure still exists in East Berlin, “only now it’s based on a political hierarchy, rather than an economically based one.” Shrugging off the “communist/social bullshit”, he did warn that people should remain wary; he said that “you’ve got to remember that they’re still bloody dangerous – you don’t know what they could be planning in the central committee meeting!”

“The class structure still exists in East Berlin, ‘only now it’s based on a political heirarchy, rather than an economically based one.’”

Varsity spoke to a wide range of people about the fall of the Berlin wall’s impact on the unification of Germany. Enshrined in the constitution of West Germany, German unification was on the minds of all as the borders between the two countries seemingly dissipated over night. Interestingly, all of those that Varsity spoke to in Berlin were not in favour of seeing a unified Germany.

For some, this was based upon concerns about an overly powerful Germany. An Engineering student from West Berlin told Varsity that a unified Germany would “dominate Europe, and after what happened this century following the horror of the 1939-45 war, this is not desirable”. In his eyes, “German reunification would upset the balance of power in Europe.” Likewise, an American soldier stationed in Berlin said that the two should stay separate and foreign troops should remain to ensure that it contines; he said that “the Americans should not pull out; nor should the French or the British. Everyone should stay as the two Germany’s together would make too powerful a nation.”

For others, the desire to keep East and West separate stemmed from a practicable viewpoint; how can the two countries that had been ideologically opposed for 40 years reconcile their vastly different economic situations? The East and West were two different worlds, and Varsity picked up on this unease at the idea of mixing them. One student stated that “quite simply, East Germans are proud of their socialist achievements” and would not be prepared to sacrifice them.

Back in Cambridge, Varsity spoke to some German students who had a very different view to the Berliners. One student claimed that the splitting of Germany was a “post-war accident” and that it was high-time for that accident to be reversed. They did not view that issue as one of economic integration; “the prospect of a reunified Germany is a matter of human rights, not an economic issue.” Although some thought reunification was not imminent, the overall sense of Cantabridgian Germans was that reunification was an inevitability following the Wall coming down.