Sofort, unverzüglich

On the 9th of November 1989, Günter Schabowski, the spokeperson for the East German regime gave a press conference announcing after much protest and the mass exodus of its population out into West Germany, that the government is finally allowing them to travel abroad.

Back then there was the Berlin Wall. It was built as a defense for the socialist side of Berlin against supposed fascist influence from the capitalist side. While the wall was physically built to surround West Berlin, not unlike a castle wall build around medieval fortresses, it was the people who was on the other side of the enclave that was being imprisoned.

Inside the wall, freedom.

Quite ironic, ja?

Herr Schabowski, while about to finish that rather boring press conference was passed by an intern, a simple note stating that the central committee of East Germany is announcing that its citizens are to be allowed to travel outside of their country without let or hindrance where previously they were required to apply for a visa which of course was often turned down.

See, Herr Schabowski was away during the meeting in which the decision was made and he himself was not aware of it and the simple nature of the note did not help him understand more. The decision was supposed to take effect the following day as to give the border guards enough time to prepare for any eventualities. Instead, after reading the note, Günter Schabowski was asked by journalists on when will the borders be opened, in which he answered "Sofort, unverzüglich".

Immediately, without delay.

The two simple words he uttered was the ending to the long struggle the Berliners, Germans, had against the wall that divided them. The Berlin Wall fell with those two words. Germany was henceforth reunited. The Iron Curtain came down. Communism in Europe ended and eventually, the Soviet Union collapsed.

Sofort, unverzüglich.

Immediately, without delay.

I am often guilty of being not sofort, unverzüglich. I fail to realize the power in being sofort, unverzüglich. Thank you Herr Schabowski for making me realize it, eventhough you never meant it for me, just like how you never meant to tear down the Berlin Wall, just like how you never meant to change the world.



Sofort, unverzüglich.