Nov 05 Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall

Remember when the History Channel focused on History?

I know, it's been a blurry ride, but there was time before the UFO obsession. Before Nostradamus, before the Mayan predictions, before ghost hunters, loggers, truckers, fishermen, and ganglords. But they still are among my favorite channels where I hold out hope to find something worth giving up a few hours of my life for.

Occasionally they still do a great job amidst the sea of paranormal and sensational speculation shows. This one looks like a real winner. So set your DVRs —2 hours.

It sprung up overnight in August, 1961--a makeshift blockade separating repressive, Soviet-controlled East Berlin from the Allied-run democracy to the west. Soon the barrier encircled all of West Berlin, sealing its two million citizens off from the rest of the world. As escape attempts escalated, deadlier obstacles were added. Eventually, a 97-mile barrier, virtually impenetrable, snaked along the border between East and West Berlin. And 28 years later, it came down as unexpectedly as it went up. Observe the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (November 9, 2009) with a dramatic look at how a line of railway cars and barbed wire evolved into the massively fortified fortress that came to symbolize the Cold War. Computer-generated imagery, re-enactments, archival footage, and expert commentary provide political and historical context while helping to illustrate how construction progressed over time--and how it was suddenly demolished by civilians in 1989.

Saturday, November 07 10:00 PM

Sunday, November 08 02:00 AM

Friday, November 13 08:00 AM

Friday, November 13 02:00 PM

Cross-posted at Freedom Dogs. Comments welcome.