New York Times When the Wall Came Down: The Berlin Wall and the Fall of Soviet Communism

by Serge Schmemann

This is history as only an eyewitness can tell it. In 1989, veteran journalist Serge Schmemann was in his hotel room when his assistant from East Germany burst in with some incredible the Berlin Wall was open. Serge jumped into the first cab he could find and raced to the wall in time to witness one of the great moments of European history. Including articles from the archives of The New York Times, this gripping narrative tells the whole story, from the division of Germany after World War II, to life in the Communist East, to the massive protests that brought an end to the Eastern Bloc, and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Germany, Historical

128 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2006

Reviews

[Blake Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When The Wall Came Down: The Berlin Wall and The Fall of Soviet Communism gives a great incite into what it was like for Germans on both sides of the wall. This book is based off the true accounts of Serge Schmemann who was the Bonn bureau chief for the New York Times during the unification of Germany. Serge in this book goes step by step of what the days were like leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall and his journey throughout covering the story. At first Serge talks about the day that the wall fell down and gives a short history about the events that lead up to the two Germany's splitting. Then Serge talks about the differences between East Germany and West Germany. Last Serge talks about the success and troubles that came with unification overall. Overall this book is a good read for ones wanting to know more about the history of the Berlin and the Unification of Germany.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good history with great pictures that documents the fast days in November of 1989 that saw the fall of the wall. Much of the material includes writings from reporters at the time. This is a New York Times book. (Great possible tool for National History Day Students.)

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick review of the events surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. Some nice photographs and a reprint of NY Times articles (truncated) from the time but this book is far from special. You won't learn anything new unless you did not personally witness the events of 1989-1991.

[pelickula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is my first coffee table book that I read entirely and it certainly feels like it. It's a good read when you're trying to kill time but the lack of depth in discussing such historic moments just kills it for me. I'm not sure if it's an intended effect but because of this book I'm interested to read more about the entire ordeal of the German split and the rest rest of the Soviet Bloc.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much! I was a baby when the wall came down, and really didn't know much about Germany between WWII and the Germany of my lifetime. It is an absolutely wild journey, and Schmemann explains it well. The photos, contemporary newspaper articles, etc. are very vivid.

[Maddie Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reason why Serge Schmemann, the author of When The wall Came down: The Berlin Wall And The Fall of Soviet Communism, wrote the book is because he wanted to inform people on what happened during the time when the wall was up and also after it came down. Schmemann also wanted to tell people of the horrible things that the wall did to families and loved ones. East Germans would do just about anything to be with their loved ones in West Germany and would sometimes die in the process of trying to be with them. Schmemann gave other peoples perspective in the book. He also gave their opinion as well as his own on what happened during the period of separation in Germany.

The theme of When the Wall Came Down is that good things come out of bad situations. After the wall came down it also opened up many opportunities for East Germans to get a better job and lead a happier life style. Although the author, Schmemann, did not actually give the theme he made it very clear of what it was. The Berlin Wall coming down was definitely a perfect example of good things coming out of a bad situation.

Schmemann wrote his book as a description of the Berlin wall. He told about what was going on during this time when the wall was up and down. Schmemann used witnesses from when this happened which made the book better. This book also had narration too. Schmemann did a well job at putting everything in order. He gave great detail about what happened.

I enjoyed reading this book because it's about what happened after World War II. I liked how he used real people perspectives on what happened. I also liked how he explained everything I did not like how a couple times he skipped around in the years and made it confusing. I would not change anything about the book though because I've never read anything like it.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schmemann, who was a New York Times correspondent in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down, talks about how the Berlin Wall came to be, with WWII's conclusion quickly followed by the rise of the Cold War. With East Germans, eager to flee their now-Communist country fleeing in vast numerous to West Germany via Berlin, the Communist leaders built the wall and sought to solidify power throughout Eastern Europe. However, decades later, the people in East Germany began calling for change, and eventually, change did come and the wall, the most visible symbol of the Iron Curtain, no longer divided the country. With changes in travel restrictions came a call for reunification of the country, and shortly, Germany did reunite, and many Soviet countries and satellites similarly called for an end to communism.

This is a good overview of recent German history and provides readers with a beginner's understanding of the political climate during the Cold War. The writing style mixed in some first person observations into the text, which interrupted the flow somewhat (I think it would have been better as sidebars), but still, it's informative and accessible, making it a good choice for teen readers.

[Gibson Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book "When the Wall Came Down: The Berlin Wall and The Fall of Soviet Communism" is a revealing story about a reporter who lives next to those who live in West Berlin. The story starts off in 1989 during the cold war. Serge Schmemann or the reporter tells the reader how he saw and heard things during the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall. In the story you find out about how the Soviet Communists treated East Berliners. I think that how the East Berliners were treated is cruel and inhuman like. The Soviet Communists would shoot anyone seen crossing the border illegally. Serge also explains about many other events that happen after the Berlin wall is taken down. One of those events is when the people of Leipzig, Germany rioted against their leader.

I think that this book was well thought out and that the author did very well while reporting in the field. I also think that the treatment of the East Berliners was horrific and very uncalled for. I am glad that the people of Germany were able to overcome the hardship they went through and persevered to over through the Soviet Communists.

[Abbey Buettgenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very good read especially if you were to be researching the Berlin Wall. The way Serge Schmemann wrote this book made it very easy to understand what was happening during the time of the Berlin Wall, the rise, stand, and fall of the wall were greatly portrayed. The fact that the author put personal stories into the book made it comical and easier to read. Overall, a very good read.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good brief introduction to the years leading up to and immediately after the fall of the Berlin Wall written by the former Germany NY Times bureau chief. A bit thin at times, though Schmemann covers a lot of territory in a short amount of time. Nice design and nice touch putting appropriate NY Times articles in the back as a reference. I like these books.

[Hope Pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serge Schmemann opens up with a funny scene. He wrote the book about the Berlin wall, but he made sure to add a little humor into the book as to make it easier to read. If anyone wants to read about the Berlin wall and its fall, I would suggest this book.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little did I know that this was written at about a sixth-grade level. Still informative, though!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for upper middle school modern history

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview. Refers to primary sources--articles from NY Times in appendix.