Die große Freiheit's primary photo
  • Die große Freiheit (1994–1994)
  • TV Mini-series | 155 min | Documentary, History
Die große Freiheit (1994–1994)
TV Mini-series | 155 min | Documentary, History

Summer 1989. Hungary's newly elected President Miklos Nemeth receives from Mikhail Gorbachev, in a secret talk, permission to largely dismantle the barbed wire on the border with the west. More than 50,000 GDR citizens poured into the ...See moreSummer 1989. Hungary's newly elected President Miklos Nemeth receives from Mikhail Gorbachev, in a secret talk, permission to largely dismantle the barbed wire on the border with the west. More than 50,000 GDR citizens poured into the socialist "brother country" Hungary in order to flee to the west via the still officially closed, but already permeable border with Austria. This hole in the "Iron Curtain" initiated the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. The events developed a dynamic that made the unimaginable possible: When Erich Honecker wanted to bloodily smash a mass demonstration in Leipzig based on the Beijing pattern on October 9, in order to "put an end to the counterrevolution once and for all", he was taken by his own comrades overturned. A month later, the Berlin Wall falls. The end of the GDR is sealed - through a peaceful revolution. With the three-part report series "Die große Freiheit" (The Great Freedom), ZDF gives a comprehensive look back at those dramatic days in summer and autumn 1989. Gorbatchev, Eduard Shevardnadze, Hans-Dietrich Genscher and other politicians from back then describe - often for the first time - what was on the top floors was decided behind closed doors. Many unpublished film recordings and moving memories of many unknown people who took their fate into their own hands at the time give a captivating picture of that time. Written by Hendrik Nehls See less
Read more: Plot summary
Seasons
Writers
Holger Hillesheim (script) | Ekkehard Kuhn (script) | Friedrich Kurz (script) | Ursula Nellessen (script) | Ralf Piechowiak (script)
Trending

Become a member to see MOVIEmeter and news information about Die große Freiheit.

Status
Edit Released
Updated Sep 25, 1994

Release date (First episode)
Sep 25, 1994 (Germany)

Contacts

Become a member to see contact information for Die große Freiheit.

Cast

+ Add Cast
26 cast members
Name Episodes Known for
Mikhail Gorbachev
Self - Then CPSU General Secretary / Self - Then head of state, USSR Self - Then CPSU General Secretary / Self - Then head of state, USSR   See fewer
3
Nick Benjamin
Narrator Narrator   See fewer
3
Miklos Nemeth
Self - Then Hungarian Prime Minister Self - Then Hungarian Prime Minister   See fewer
2
Helmut Kohl
Self - Then Federal Chancellor Self - Then Federal Chancellor   See fewer
2
Hans-Dietrich Genscher
Self - Then Federal Foreign Minister Self - Then Federal Foreign Minister   See fewer
2
Christian Führer
Self - Pastor of St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig Self - Pastor of St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig   See fewer
1
Milan Kadnar
Self - Then foreign policy advisor, CSSR Self - Then foreign policy advisor, CSSR   See fewer
1
Tamara Danz
Self - Rock singer Self - Rock singer   See fewer
1
Egon Krenz
Self - Then Central Committee Secretary and later General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany Self - Then Central Committee Secretary and later General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany   See fewer
1
Gusztav Ovari
Self - Border commander Fertörakos Self - Border commander Fertörakos   See fewer
1
Hermann Huber
Self - Then ambassador Self - Then ambassador   See fewer
1
Imre Kozma
Self - Pastor of the Order of Malta Self - Pastor of the Order of Malta   See fewer
1
Imre Pozsgay
Self - Reform politician Self - Reform politician   See fewer
1
Oskar Krejcí
Self - Then advisor to the Prime Minister, CSSR Self - Then advisor to the Prime Minister, CSSR   See fewer
1
Walter Momper
Self - Then Governing Mayor of Berlin Self - Then Governing Mayor of Berlin   See fewer
1
Günter Schabowski
Self - Then district chief and press spokesman for the Socialist Unity Party of Germany Self - Then district chief and press spokesman for the Socialist Unity Party of Germany   See fewer
1
Gyula Horn
Self - Then Hungarian Foreign Minister Self - Then Hungarian Foreign Minister   See fewer
1
Johannes Bauch
Self - Ambassador to Warsaw Self - Ambassador to Warsaw   See fewer
1
Tadeusz Mazowiecki
Self - Then Prime Minister, Poland Self - Then Prime Minister, Poland   See fewer
1
Nikolai Portugalow
Self - Then Gorbachev adviser Self - Then Gorbachev adviser   See fewer
1
Gerhard Lauter
Self - Then GDR Interior Ministry Self - Then GDR Interior Ministry   See fewer
1
Eduard Shevardnadze
Self - Then Foreign Minister, USSR Self - Then Foreign Minister, USSR   See fewer
1
Manfred Sens
Self - Then border commander Self - Then border commander   See fewer
1
James Baker III
Self - Then Secretary of State, USA Self - Then Secretary of State, USA   See fewer
1
Viacheslav Kochemasov
Self - Then Soviet ambassador in East Berlin Self - Then Soviet ambassador in East Berlin   See fewer
1
Herbert Wagner
Self - Then Lord Mayor, Dresden Self - Then Lord Mayor, Dresden   See fewer
1
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.

MOVIEmeter

Members only

Become a member to access additional data

Ratings Breakdown