For some it is an evening etched onto their memories, for others November 9th means nothing at all. But for anyone who lived in Berlin 20 years ago, today’s ceremonies marking the fall of the wall are a major event.

World leaders will gather outside the German capital’s famous Brandenburg Gate today to pay tribute to those who helped bring about the fall of the iron curtain. The long list of dignitaries invited to the celebrations, include former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev and the Polish Solidarity leader Lech Walesa who mobilised shipyard workers against the Communist regime.

Scars of the past
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is heading today’s ceremonies, said the country is still struggling to deal with the scars of the past:

“German unity is still incomplete. We must tackle this problem if we want to achieve equal quality of life.”

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is also in attendance, said the world should work hard to stamp out any oppression.

“Our history did not end the night the Wall came down. To expand freedom to more people, we cannot accept that freedom does not belong to all people. We cannot allow oppression defined and justified by religion or tribe to replace that of (communist) ideology.”

Nostalgia fest
More than 100,000 people are expected to attend the festivities which include an open-air concert and a fireworks display and giant polystyrene dominoes will be toppled along a 2km stretch of the former wall. Some have described what is happening today as a ‘nostalgia fest’ but Berlin’s younger population is less than impressed.

“I think it’s pretty important for the young generation to know this part of Germany’s history,” says one girl. “But for me personally, it doesn’t really matter.”