50 years of Kennedy's famous words

Politicians are judged by words and deeds. Moreover, in their work both the word and the deed are a political move. The master of such moves was US President John F. Kennedy. And 50 years ago he did one of them. cast a spell

50 years of Kennedy's famous words

Two boys call to each other across the Berlin Wall.

- I have an orange! - declares the western.

- And we have socialism! - brags the eastern.

- So what! We, if we want, will also make socialism!

- Ha! Then you won't have an orange!

front city

Germany's surrender in World War II was one of the few signed twice.

First time in Reims. On behalf of the defeated - Colonel General Jodl, on behalf of the winners - the Anglo-American command, the French and the representative of the USSR, Major General Susloparov. May 7 at 2:41.

The document entered into force at 23:01 on May 8, 1945.

Stalin's ban on signing the Act was belated. Well, Susloparov stipulated the possibility of a secondary ceremony. The anger of the leader was caused by the haste of formalizing the end of the war, a misunderstanding of its significance. And he saw it - this powerful tool for controlling the consciousness and behavior of people for years to come. And he demanded a new signing - in Berlin.

On May 8, at 22:43, the Instrument of Surrender was signed again.

Crisis City

Berlin is in the Soviet zone of occupation, but it is divided among the allies.

In East Germany, Moscow asserts "the only true doctrine." Businesses are confiscated there and opponents are imprisoned. In the West, the Marshall Plan and currency reform.

The USSR renounces the four-sided administration of the country, leaving itself the eastern zone . The borders are closed. You can't let in the German mark. West Berlin is supplied by air. This is the first Berlin Crisis.

The drama of the blockade and the air bridge is well known. Its length is equal to two hundred flights to the moon and back. This is how the city was defended - "a bastion of freedom among the" red project ", connected with the world by a corridor through the GDR - the state of German Marxists.

It broke out the second Berlin crisis. In May 1953, the authorities raised production rates and prices for marmalade, the basis of a working breakfast. And they caused an explosion.

Demonstrations and strikes began demanding free elections. The protests involved 100,000 people at the 110 largest factories in 72 cities.

Molotov recalled: “Beria was in Berlin ... We decided: to suppress in the most merciless way. Let's say the Germans revolt?! It would all work out…”

T-34s and police crushed protests in Berlin. In total, according to the authorities, 19 rebels and 4 security officials were killed. According to others - 267 and 116.

The GDR blamed the West for everything. In vain. Yes, the inhabitants on the other side sympathized with the rebels, but they could not help them. The border was closed by the Red Army. All they have to do is honor the memory of the dead...

challenge city

The FRG and the GDR were not separated by barbed wire. In Berlin, the Germans easily moved from sector to sector. It became a problem - people went to the West. Life there was more expensive, but its level was higher. Plus, freedom. No one demanded loyalty to the party, there were no repressions. Life was better and more fun. The authorities lost up to a third of university graduates and specialists a year.

According to Eastern data, from 1949 to 1961, 1.6 million people left the country. There are other figures - 3.5 million. They left: in 1959 - 143,917 people. In 1960, 199,188. In 1961, in February, 13,576; in July, 30,415; and in the first days of August, 1,500 people a day. 11th - the last 2290.

So who, it turns out, is right in the dispute of systems? What example is better than the departure of relatives? What is more dangerous than the “bourgeois ulcer in the heart of the GDR”, where “their morals” reigned, there were free elections and the question of joining the FRG was discussed. The Allies liked the idea, although, following the Potsdam agreements, they could not support it. But realizing the strategic importance of Berlin, they opposed its inclusion in the zone of influence of the USSR.

President Kennedy encouraged N.S. Khrushchev together to rake up the heavy legacy of the war. The same one wanted to sign peace with the GDR, invalidating the previous agreements. Kennedy replied: “They say the defense of Berlin is impossible. The same was said about Stalingrad. Any place can be protected. If people - brave people - will do it."

Khrushchev accused the West of wanting to “break through” to Berlin by force and announced his readiness to prevent this. And at one in the morning on August 13, 1961, one of the most bitter construction projects of the century began - West Berlin was surrounded by a wall.

For 28 years, the world will call her Berlin.

Reservists were called up in Germany. The states sent paratroopers. Who knew Nikita was so furious? How did he "start" the GDR communists!

And on October 26, American tanks came to the wall. And to meet them, sparkling with the brilliance of steel, ten T-54s. And behind them - the entire Soviet group of troops.

Two worlds, two systems pitted guns against each other. Bringing the world to the brink of war.

And on the 27th the cars left. First, the Soviets. Then the American ones.

The Third Berlin Crisis is over. Kennedy and Khrushchev agreed. Thanks to diplomats, intelligence, personal leaders and concessions.

Soon Khrushchev "forgot" about peace with the GDR. And Kennedy defended West Berlin.

Berliner

And on June 26, 1963, he triumphantly entered the city.

Kennedy, Chancellor and Mayor Willy Brandt - at the Brandenburg Gate.

The gate is behind the wall. Neither of them are flags. They block the city. Kennedy went up to the observation platform, and immediately a truck with a banner branding the United States arrived on the other side.

The President silently looked to the east. As if there are no flags and posters there, but the coming Europe is seen through the gates. In the film about the visit they will say: "The leader of the largest democracy in the world inspects the symbol of totalitarian rule."

Next stop is Checkpoint Charlie.

And here, on the other side, is a poster: "We want a peace treaty and the transformation of West Berlin into a neutral free city." Kennedy is calm. He is on this one.

Preparing the visit, the agents noted a hundred dangerous points, but did not take into account the enthusiasm of the townspeople. Sometimes they were intercepted at the very car, floating on the foam of confetti - to the town hall.

It is decorated with the flags of the USA and Berlin. The President briefly disappeared into the building. For what? To find out how important words for him sound in German.

And a podium. Above it are the Allied flags. Before him are 400,000 people.

“I am proud to be the guest of your mayor representing the fighting spirit of Berlin. <…>

Two thousand years of the proud phrase "I am a citizen of Rome." Today, in the free world, it should sound like this: “I am a Berliner!”

Here are the words he learned in the town hall: "Ich bin ein Berliner!"

Ovation! Thousands of handkerchiefs flew up. Not checkboxes! Flags were waved to Hitler. Those who have gathered now do not want to be like the Nazis. Kennedy continues:

“There are many people in the world who do not understand… the difference between the world of freedom and the communist world. Let them come to Berlin! There are those who say that communism is the idea of ​​the future. Let them come to Berlin! Someone believes: you can work with the communists. Let them go to Berlin! Others say that communism is a vicious system, but it helps to develop the economy. Let them go to Berlin!”

Delight.

And he: “Freedom is difficult and democracy is not perfect. But we wouldn't build a wall to keep the people from leaving us."

Applause.

And he: “Freedom is indivisible. If one person is enslaved, no one is free. When everyone is free... When that day comes... the people of West Berlin will be proud that you have lived at the front for almost two decades. All free people, wherever they live, are citizens of West Berlin. Therefore, as a free man, I proudly declare: “I am a Berliner!”

This speech has become one of the strongest speeches of mankind. Kennedy conquered Berlin. People don't hide tears. The ovation grows. The bell sounds - a copy of the US Liberty Bell.

The President's plane had not yet taken off, and the words "Ich bin ein Berliner!"* had already spread around the world. They mean not what Kennedy wanted to say. But the world understood him. ^{(A fragment of the book by Dmitry Petrov "Kennedy". The book is being prepared for publication in the series "Life of Remarkable People" by the publishing house "Young Guard")}

^* In German, the words "I am a Berliner" are pronounced without the article ein. And with him (as Kennedy said) they mean: "I am a Berlin donut."