The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel

Chapter 4 opens with the dramatic event of the fall of the Berlin Wall and Merkel’s reaction and adaptation to this monumental change. The fall of the Berlin Wall happened without much pomp and the citizens were informed of the decision by an East German government spokesman, who carelessly announced that travel to the West was permitted immediately. Angela Merkel, maintaining her routine, went to the sauna before joining the celebrations at the Bornholmer Bridge and briefly visiting a West German family’s apartment. Despite the excitement, Merkel remained practical and returned home early.

The fall of the Berlin Wall left East Germans, including Merkel, in a state of shock and wonder at the newfound freedoms. While the regime did not use force to maintain control, the atmosphere was one of uncertainty and euphoria. Merkel’s life continued with minor changes, such as attending a science conference in Poland where the possibility of German unification was discussed.

Merkel soon realized that her job as a physicist felt increasingly irrelevant in the new political context. She was eager to engage with people and explore new opportunities. By late 1989, she had decided to enter politics, joining the Demokratischer Aufbruch (Democratic Awakening, DA), which later merged with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).