At the end of September 1989, thousands of GDR citizens escaped to the embassy grounds of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague. As one of two West German nurses, Annemagret John from Peine takes care of the refugees there. "We came to tell you that today your departure has become possible!" When Hans-Dietrich Genscher, then Federal Foreign Minister, shouted this historic sentence on September 30, 1989 at 6:58 p.m. on the embassy balcony, John was standing directly behind him with goosebumps. "People hugged each other, screamed and cheered, there was no end to the joy," John recalls.
Hans-Dietrich Genscher redeems the GDR citizens
"When Hans-Dietrich Genscher walked through the gate, people recognized him immediately, hugged each other, somehow it was absolutely clear to everyone at that moment:Now there is a solution!" Around 5,000 people stayed on the completely overcrowded embassy premises that day. "We only had very few showers and toilets. When we arrived on the site two days earlier, there were 2,500 refugees there. More and more came every hour and climbed over the back fence. They first handed the children over, then their luggage. They trusted not to go through the entrance because it was guarded by the Czech police," recalls the then 41-year-old.
People stayed in the Prague embassy for days
Hygiene items and medicines had to be taken to the Prague embassy every day.Those who wanted to leave the country lived in tents provided with three-story beds or in their own camping tents. "Anyone who ran out of space had to wait for days on the wide steps of the embassy building. They practically lived there, everyone had a step. There was no more space. Luckily it was sunny and dry. We then coordinated the supply," explains the nurse. "The van drove daily to get diapers for babies, toiletries, towels and medicines. Many had caught colds or had abrasions from climbing over the fence."
Ordered chaos on the embassy premises
A field kitchen was also set up. There was goulash or noodles and long lines at the food counter. Everyone was patient. It was an orderly chaos, describes Annemagret John. "They were young people, many families with children were hoping to be able to travel through the embassy. To pass the time, many had board games with them. And everyone was hoping:There will be a happy ending. Everything will be fine! " After Genscher's redeeming words, buses were ready. "Nevertheless, people were very scared and didn't want to leave the embassy premises unaccompanied and go to the buses. Embassy employees went with them. A pregnant woman shortly before giving birth also insisted. Otherwise she wouldn't have gone to the hospital," says today's woman Deputy head of the DRK in Peine. There was also support from the refugees. "I always asked who had medical knowledge. There were many doctors and nurses from the GDR who helped us."
Annegret John rejects proposal for the Federal Cross of Merit
Annemagret John today:She is happy and proud that she was present at the Prague embassy at the time.Annemagret John worked at the embassy for a week. 25 years later, her eyes still shine when she talks about it and leafs through her notes, almost like a diary with impressions and the order lists for diapers and medication. She saved many newspaper clippings from the dramatic days of the fall of the Berlin Wall. For her it was a one-off. Because the help was a matter of course for her, she rejected the proposal for the Federal Cross of Merit. "That was my contribution to reunification, for freedom. I would do it again and again."