Photo 1: Thomas Hoffmann (middle) and Matthias Dressler (right) of the banner. Source: German Foundation " Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung"

Photo 2: Matthias Dressler and Thomas Hoffmann in autumn 2009.

Keep the Banner

Jacaranda Concert on Commemoration Day

BRANDENBURG. On November 9^th the Jacaranda Ensemble will hold a concert at 20:00 in the Brandenburg Theatre to commemorate "20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall."

For Thomas Hoffmann and Matthias Dressler this day is particularly full of special memories. On the night of November 9th 1989 the musician Thomas Hoffmann (who was at that time employed as a musician for the Brandenburg Theatre) was visiting his colleague Matthias Dressler in Eastern Berlin in the Lichtenburg district. Both heard the famous press conference live on the radio in which the legendary statement was uttered, "Permanent departure from the GDR to the FRG, or respectively to West Berlin, may now take place at all border crossings."

The musicians spontaneously made their way over to Brandenburg Gate (the ultimate symbol of German separation) where more and more people gathered throughout the evening to rejoice and celebrate this historical event.

Six days previously to this Thomas Hoffmann and Matthias Dressler had been working together on the design and creation of a banner. This was adorned with large print with the words, "Whoever lies once will never be believed again, if he does not admit his mistake; even if he then starts talking in completely different tones." With this slogan Dressler and Hoffmann above all wanted to protest about the nomination of Egon Krenz as the new Head of State, who had been largely responsible for the election fraud in May 1989.

On November 4^th 1989 both musicians proceeded to Alexanderplatz with their banner, along with more than 500,000 other protesters. On arriving at the Palace of the Republic they decided to scale the building up onto the balcony, so that they would be positioned right below the enormous national insignia of the GDR, which would then be seen by the masses from far away. What may today appear as a simple feat, was in fact a huge risk in the turbulent days of the autumn of 1989 as no one knew how the security forces of the former GDR would react to such provocation.

Tensions were first eased as this symbolic motif gained the attention of more and more protestors and international journalists, who then also decided to climb up on to the balcony below the national insignia to support the protest.

Matthias Dressler and Thomas Hoffmann still have the banner today. See below.