Embassy of Germany in Prague

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Prague Embassy)

Jump to: navigation, search

North side of German Embassy, partially hidden behind a scaffold

South side of German Embassy, with the garden in which the refugees were camping

The Embassy of Germany in Prague to the Czech Republic is located on Vlašská street, in Malá Strana, Prague, Czech Republic.

It occupies the large Palais Lobkowicz and possesses an extensive garden.

In 1989, as the West German Embassy, it became the temporary home of thousands of East German refugees who camped out in its grounds. While there were small groups hiding there occasionally since the embassy was opened in 1974, the number rose in September to thousands, causing problems.

When Hans-Dietrich Genscher announced on 30 September an agreement making their travel to West Germany possible, the crowd cheered on the keyword "Ausreise". This marked an emotional and significant moment in German history. Yet, many more refugees fled to the embassy in the weeks to follow, wearing down the patience of the Czech authorities which gave in eventually, letting all East Germans travel directly to West Germany on 3 November. Thus, they broke their part of the Iron Curtain, the Czechoslovakian border fortifications during the Cold War. These events are commemorated by a golden statue of a Trabant in the garden of the embassy.

Soon, the Berlin Wall would fall, and the Czechs would succeed with in the Velvet Revolution.

Adresse
Deutsche Botschaft Prag
Vlašská 19 (formerly Wälsche Spitalgasse 19)
Postbox 88
118 01 Praha 1 – Malá Strana