Posted on Jul 1, 2017
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President John F. Kennedy expresses solidarity with democratic German citizens in a speech on this day in 1963. In front of the Berlin Wall that separated the city into democratic and communist sectors, he declared to the crowd, “Ich bin ein Berliner” or “I am also a citizen of Berlin.”
In his speech, Kennedy assured West Germans that free nations still stood by the people of the democratically controlled sectors of Berlin who had lived within the hostile borders of East Germany since the end of World War II. Immediately after the war, the city of Berlin was divided into West Berlin, comprised of American, British and French-administered democratic enclaves, and East Berlin, an East German communist-controlled area. In an early confrontation of the Cold War, West Berliners had endured a Soviet-imposed blockade of their part of the city between June 1948 and May 1949 that cut off their food and energy supplies. In response, the Allied Military Air Transport Service had flown food, coal and school supplies into the city in an unprecedented logistical feat known as “Operation Vittles” or the “Berlin Airlift.”
At the time of Kennedy’s speech to West Berliners in 1963, the city’s democratic enclave remained a tiny but strategically important foothold for democracy within communist-controlled Eastern Europe.
In his speech, Kennedy assured West Germans that free nations still stood by the people of the democratically controlled sectors of Berlin who had lived within the hostile borders of East Germany since the end of World War II. Immediately after the war, the city of Berlin was divided into West Berlin, comprised of American, British and French-administered democratic enclaves, and East Berlin, an East German communist-controlled area. In an early confrontation of the Cold War, West Berliners had endured a Soviet-imposed blockade of their part of the city between June 1948 and May 1949 that cut off their food and energy supplies. In response, the Allied Military Air Transport Service had flown food, coal and school supplies into the city in an unprecedented logistical feat known as “Operation Vittles” or the “Berlin Airlift.”
At the time of Kennedy’s speech to West Berliners in 1963, the city’s democratic enclave remained a tiny but strategically important foothold for democracy within communist-controlled Eastern Europe.
Kennedy claims solidarity with the people of Berlin - Jun 26, 1963 - HISTORY.com
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Office of the President (POTUS)
Office of the President (POTUS)
Posted >1 y ago
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Thanks for reminding us TSgt Joe C. that on June 26, 1963 that former POTUS John F. Kennedy made his famous statement in Berlin to demonstrate solidarity with the besieged German people of that city “Ich bin ein Berliner” or “I am also a citizen of Berlin.”
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Photos of President Kennedy taken in West Berlin 26 June 1963. It was an exciting & historic day. The President did more than express solidarity with the West Berliners -- he assured them of their continued freedom, indeed, of their continued existence -- that the U.S. & the West had their backs. His memorable "Ich bin ein Berliner" address was also a stern indictment of the monstrosity of communism.
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