Pan European PicnicMemorial Park
Fertörákos
Hungary
Paneuropäisches PicknickPáneurópai Piknik
19 August 1989
"A memorial park
now commemorates the event
that allowed about 600 East Germans
to cross into Austria and to freedom
while the Hungarian border guards looked on.”
(Hungarian Spectrum, August 2009)
Pan European PicnicMemorial Park
"Áttörés" - "Umbruch" Monument
and an original watch tower
The Road To FreedomHungarian side of the border
Fertörákos
Hungary
The Road To FreedomAustrian side of the border
St. Margarethen
Austrian Side Of The BorderSt. Margarethen
Burgenland
"The Pan-European Picnic (German: Paneuropäisches Picknick; Hungarian: Páneurópai piknik) was a peace demonstration held on the Austrian-Hungarian border near the town of Sopron on 19 August 1989, an important event in political developments which led to the fall of the Iron Curtain, the reunification of Germany and in the end the eastern enlargement of the European Union.
In a symbolic gesture agreed to by both countries,
a border gate on the road from Sankt Margarethen im Burgenland (Austria) to Sopronkőhida (Hungary) was to be opened for three hours. About 6 km (3.7 mi) away from this spot on 27 June 1989, Austria's then foreign minister Alois Mock and his Hungarian counterpart Gyula Horn had together cut through the border fence, in a move highlighting Hungary's decision to dismantle its surveillance installations along the border, a process started on 2 May 1989.
More than 600 East Germans seized the opportunity presented by this brief lifting of the Iron Curtain and fled into the west. In the run-up to 19 August, the organisers of the Pan-European Picnic had distributed pamphlets advertising the event. The Hungarian border guards, however, reacted judiciously to the growing number of people fleeing, and, despite their orders to shoot anyone who attempted to cross the border, did not intervene."
(Quoted from Wikipedia)
*
For more information about this event,
click on any of the first three images.
This now open border to Hungary
is less than an hour's drive from Vienna.
*
Photographed by Merisi
7 October 2009
©
A very graphic and poignant post Merisi. I well remember those dramatic days, glued to the radio listening to the events unfolding. How alien it all seems these days in the relative stability of the European Community.
ReplyDeleteMerisi, die Bürgerhaus - Rezeptionistin hat angerufen, die Früchte gibt es am Naschmarkt zu kaufen
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating piece of history.
ReplyDeleteSo very recent.
I'm so happy that the "Iron Curtain" has been dismantled.
Such craziness in the 20th century.
Will we do better in the 21st?
I do hope so.
You not only provide us with a feast for the eyes, but food for the soul, also for our minds! I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!! ~Janine XO
ReplyDeleteMerisi, I have a dear friend who came to this country from Hungary. I am going to let her know about what I felt reading your post.
ReplyDeletexo
"Who has seen the wind?" Well, I thought I did in those first three photos (literally). And here was the place that it began to change...Thank you for the history lesson!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to sit and admire the tremendous beauty of this place! Lovely photos!
ReplyDeletePixellicious Photos
That's a fascinating historical tidbit that I'm glad you chose to share with us. I was around during that time, but too young to really remember it, so I appreciate it when an unfamiliar period is brought to life for me.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, several years ago on a tour with my study abroad program, we did visit this area; in fact we drove from Budapest to Vienna, and I don't remember that drive being that beautiful! Which is a shame really...
Thank you for sharing that part of the run for freedom of East Germans I did not know about!
ReplyDeleteI later heard from a friend about the massive demonstrations within East Germany (which is a major miracle in itself) that eventually led up to the fall of the Berlin wall and freedom for the East Germans.
an important moment in time! thanks for showing this! they celebrated this in Burgenland this summer.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad how we can live through a time in history and not know what is going on.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lesson and insight. Such peaceful scenes today.
that's a place of beauty. both visual and for what it stands...
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is impossible to comprehend man's inhumanity to his fellow man.
ReplyDeleteThank you Merisi for this peaceful scene where once there was hate and suspicion and fear.
Beautiful and hopeful -- perhaps eventually today's injustices will fade into memory. Thank you, Merisi.
ReplyDelete