border opening
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border opening
The act of opening a previously closed national border and allowing free movement of people. In Germany, the term is very strongly associated with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the opening of the inner-German border in 1989.
Die friedliche Revolution in der DDR führte schließlich zur Grenzöffnung am 9. November 1989.
The peaceful revolution in the GDR eventually led to the border opening on November 9, 1989.
The word is a clear compound of 'die Grenze' (the border) and 'die Öffnung' (the opening). So it literally describes the act of opening a border.
Die Menschen feierten die unerwartete Grenzöffnung die ganze Nacht.
People celebrated the unexpected border opening all night.
Without further context, Germans almost always think of one specific event when they hear 'die Grenzöffnung' (the border opening): the fall of the Berlin Wall and the opening of the inner-German border on November 9, 1989. The term is inseparably linked to German reunification.
Meine Eltern erzählen oft von ihren Emotionen am Abend der Grenzöffnung.
My parents often talk about their emotions on the evening of the border opening.
The word is often used in connection with the date or anniversary of the event. Typical phrases are 'der Jahrestag der Grenzöffnung' (the anniversary of the border opening) or 'die Grenzöffnung von 1989' (the border opening of 1989).
Zum 30. Jahrestag der Grenzöffnung gab es eine große Feier am Brandenburger Tor.
For the 30th anniversary of the border opening, there was a large celebration at the Brandenburg Gate.
opening
'die Öffnung' and 'die Grenzöffnung' can both mean an act in which something previously closed becomes accessible. 'die Öffnung' is general and can refer to doors, shops, markets, or political processes. 'die Grenzöffnung' is much more specific: it is about a national border that people are allowed to cross again or for the first time. Learners may confuse the words because 'Grenzöffnung' contains the word 'Öffnung'. But you use 'Grenzöffnung' only when you really mean a border between countries.
Viele Familien konnten sich nach der Grenzöffnung endlich wieder besuchen.
After the border opening, many families were finally able to visit each other again.
Die Öffnung des Parks nach dem Sturm dauerte länger als geplant.
The opening of the park after the storm took longer than planned.