20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall Marked at UMass Amherst with Reception, Film Screening, History Exhibit

Nov. 2, 2009

Contact:

Daniel J. Fitzgibbons 413/545-0444

AMHERST, Mass. – Two decades after the Berlin Wall fell, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is commemorating the historic event that led to Germany’s reunification with a reception, film screening and the opening of a public history exhibit on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

UMass Chancellor Robert Holub and his wife, Sabine, will attend the reception from 5-7 p.m. in the second floor lobby of Herter Hall Annex. Chancellor Holub, who is a professor of German and Scandinavian studies, will offer remarks on the occasion of the anniversary.

At 7 p.m., “Leipzig in Autumn,” a key documentary about the demonstrations that led up to the fall of the wall, will be shown in 227 Herter Hall.

The reception will mark the official opening of an exhibit on the history of the Berlin Wall created by graduate students in the public history program at UMass Amherst.

UMass Amherst is one of 28 campuses across the United States chosen by the German government to receive support for “campus weeks” commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 1989 turning point in German history—the Wende—that led to the reunification of Germany. Last year, German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth invited Chancellor Holub to submit plans to mark the anniversary. A proposal submitted by Barton Byg and Skyler Arndt-Briggs of German and Scandinavian studies and Jon Olsen of the history department was selected in April.

For more information on UMass Amherst events commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall, call 413/545-2350 or go to www.umass.edu/german.

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