Germany hailed the endurance of transatlantic ties Wednesday on the 50th anniversary of US president John F. Kennedy's stirring Cold War declaration "Ich bin ein Berliner", with celebrations across the reunited city.
Ahead of the main commemoration ceremony at the old West Berlin town hall where JFK addressed 450,000 people in 1963, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the historic speech remained "unforgettable for us Germans".
"Berlin was a divided city, the Cold War had separated Germans along the Wall," he said in a statement. "President Kennedy gave Berliners new hope in difficult times and all Germans new confidence."
Westerwelle said last week's visit to Berlin by President Barack Obama, in which he borrowed tropes from Kennedy's speech to call for stronger transatlantic cooperation on global crises, showed that the spirit of Kennedy's pledge was alive and well.
"Shared history has become vibrant German-American friendship, which in a world of fundamental change is as important today as it was then," he said.
"In his speech at the Brandenburg Gate, President Obama underlined the partnership of values that binds us together which Kennedy had hailed. That is a good foundation to weather the challenges of 21st century globalisation together."
Kennedy's eight-hour visit on June 26, 1963 came at a critical stage of the Cold War, and Berlin was on the front line.
It was only a year since the United States and Soviet Union nearly went to war in the Cuban missile crisis, and two years after East Germany's communist regime erected the Berlin Wall, cleaving the city in two.
In an electrifying 10-minute address, Kennedy gave Berliners what they wanted to hear: a condemnation of the Wall and a promise that the free world stood by them.
"Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect but we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in, to prevent them from leaving us," the defiant president said, in a firm rejection of communist appeasement.
At the end, Kennedy uttered the immortal words: "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein Berliner' (I am a Berliner)."
His vow, just five months before he would be assassinated in Dallas, was greeted with rapturous applause from the crowds of Berliners thronging the square.
Copyright (2013) AFP. All rights reserved.
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.