“You could hear the prison guard's footsteps in the hallway when he was approaching your cell, and the loud noise when the key was inserted and turned in the lock,” Jan Kickinger (@kickin) recalls of his time in prison. At the age of 19, the Kleinmachnow native was convicted of “Republikflucht”–the crime of attempting to flee from East Germany. “I did not see any prospects for me in the GDR (German Democratic Republic),” says Jan, explaining his urge to escape. The Fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago marked Jan's freedom in more than one way. “I was released from prison on November 9, 1989,” he explains. Only a few hours later the border crossings were opened. “Suddenly you had all these opportunities to determine what you wanted to do with your life; you had the chance to travel. It felt phenomenal.” The sight of the Glienicke Bridge still reminds Jan of that life-changing day: “We were greeted enthusiastically at the other bank of the Havel River by cheering people of West Berlin. The crossing of the bridge was a very moving moment I will never forget.” Jan joins other Berlin Instagrammers who are sharing memories of the Berlin Wall on the @instagramDE account. To see more images surrounding the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, browse the #fallofthewall25 hashtag.
Photo of @kickin by @brainyartist