| In Leipzig, this is the edge of the Nikolaikirche, where the Monday night protests took place that ultimately played a major role in bringing down the communist government. I was in the church once in 1992 for an organ concert, it is modest, but elegant. On October 9, 1989 a protest of tens of thousands gathered outside the church and the Communist government was ready to confront them -- the so called 'chinese solution' named because of what happened in Tianamen Square in June 1989. But the government was divided on what to do, and the Leipzig city officials, lacking clear instructions from Berlin, pulled the police back and let the peaceful protest continue. A month later, the wall in Berlin came down. |
| A factory, now silent, where once thousands of workers were employed. Such factories were inefficient and created excessive pollution. |
Go back to Leipzig page