Leslie Massey
The fence between Hungary and Austria was a physical manifestation of the Iron Curtain that divided post-war Europe. This fence was a heavily guarded, 240-kilometre-long electric barbed-wire fence that prevented travel between Eastern Bloc countries and the West. On 27 June 1989, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gyula Horn, and his Austrian counterpart, Alois Mock, held a symbolic fence-cutting ceremony at the border crossing, signalling Hungary's decision to dismantle its border surveillance. This event inspired thousands of East Germans to head to Hungary, hoping to travel west, and ultimately led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the unification of Germany.
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What You'll Learn
The fence was a part of the Iron Curtain
The fence between Hungary and Austria was a part of the Iron Curtain that divided Europe after World War II. The Iron Curtain was a physical and ideological division between Western Europe and the Soviet bloc of Eastern European countries that were under Soviet influence.
The dismantling of the fence began in May 1989, marking a significant shift in Hungary's relationship with the Soviet Union and its satellite states. The Hungarian government ordered the electricity in the barbed-wire fence to be turned off, and border guards began removing sections of the barrier. This process was filmed by Western TV crews and widely publicised, inspiring thousands of East Germans to head to Hungary in the hope of crossing into Austria and West Germany.
On June 27, 1989, the foreign ministers of Hungary and Austria, Gyula Horn and Alois Mock, held a symbolic fence-cutting ceremony at the border crossing in Sopron, Hungary. This event signified the official opening of the border between the two countries and marked the beginning of the end for communist governments in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Pan-European Picnic on August 19, 1989, further emphasised the impact of the open border. During this event, over 900 East Germans on holiday in Hungary rushed the border and escaped into Austria, eventually reaching West Germany. This mass escape infuriated East German officials, who feared a return to the days before the Berlin Wall when thousands of East Germans fled to West Berlin.
The removal of the fence between Hungary and Austria was, therefore, a pivotal moment in the dismantling of the Iron Curtain and the broader shift away from communism in Central and Eastern Europe. It facilitated the movement of people and goods across borders and symbolised the desire for increased international cooperation and improved relations.
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The removal of the fence was a symbolic gesture
The removal of the fence between Hungary and Austria was indeed a symbolic gesture. The fence, which was part of the "Iron Curtain", had divided Europe for over 40 years. Its removal in 1989 signalled the end of communism in Hungary and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
The dismantling of the fence began in May 1989 when Hungarian border guards started taking down sections of the barrier in front of Western TV crews. This was followed by a symbolic fence-cutting ceremony on June 27, 1989, where the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gyula Horn, and his Austrian counterpart, Alois Mock, cut through the barbed wire fence at the border crossing in Sopron, Hungary. This act represented Hungary's decision to dismantle its border surveillance and ease travel restrictions to the West.
The Pan-European Picnic on August 19, 1989, further emphasised the symbolism of the fence removal. This event, held at the border, was a peace demonstration and a gesture of European unity. It was agreed upon by both Austria and Hungary, and a border gate was opened for three hours, allowing participants to cross freely. The picnic was attended by thousands of Hungarians, Austrians, and East Germans, who took the opportunity to rush across the border into Austria and then to West Germany.
The removal of the fence had significant consequences. It opened up access to goods and services for Hungarians, as they could now easily cross into Austria. More importantly, it sparked a chain reaction that ultimately led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the demise of communist governments in Central and Eastern Europe. The fence removal and the subsequent events highlighted the desire for freedom, democratic elections, and the withdrawal of Soviet troops in the region.
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The fence was dismantled during the end of communism in Hungary
The dismantling of the fence between Hungary and Austria was a significant event that occurred during the end of communism in Hungary in 1989. This event was part of a broader wave of revolutions that swept across various communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe, marking a pivotal moment in the region's history.
The Hungary-Austria border fence, stretching for 240 kilometres (149 miles), was a formidable barrier fortified with electric barbed wire. Colloquially known as the "Iron Curtain," it stood as a stark symbol of the division of post-war Europe. The decision to dismantle this fence was driven by Hungary's financial difficulties and a shift in the government's priorities. Prime Minister Miklós Németh recognised the high cost of maintaining automated border control and the decreasing necessity of securing the borders.
In April 1989, the Hungarian government took the pivotal step of ordering the electricity to the border fence to be turned off. This act signalled the beginning of the end for the physical barrier. On May 2, 1998, border guards, under the watchful eyes of Western TV crews, commenced the meticulous process of removing sections of the fence. This act of deconstruction sent a powerful message and inspired hope among those seeking freedom and unity.
The dismantling of the fence was not without its symbolic gestures and ceremonies. On June 27, 1989, Gyula Horn, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his Austrian counterpart, Alois Mock, participated in a momentous fence-cutting ceremony at the Sopron border crossing. This joint act carried immense significance, highlighting Hungary's intention to dismantle its border surveillance and ease travel restrictions to the West. The ceremony was a powerful demonstration of the changing political landscape and the desire for greater European unity.
The Pan-European Picnic, held on August 19, 1989, further exemplified the spirit of unity and friendship across the former Iron Curtain. During this event, a temporary border gate was opened, allowing hundreds of East Germans to rush through the border into Austria and subsequently into West Germany. This mass exodus, the largest since the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, sent shockwaves through the region. The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, and the path towards the end of communism in Europe became irreversible.
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The Pan-European Picnic: a peace demonstration held on the border
The Pan-European Picnic was a peace demonstration held on the border between Austria and Hungary on 19 August 1989. The event was organised by Hungarian opposition parties and was planned as a symbolic meeting of Germans, Austrians, and Hungarians. The patrons of the picnic, Otto von Habsburg and Imre Pozsgay, saw it as an opportunity to test Mikhail Gorbachev's reaction to an opening of the border on the Iron Curtain. The official emblem of the picnic was a dove breaking through the barbed wire.
The opening of the border gate between Austria and Hungary at the Pan-European Picnic was a significant milestone in the reunification of Germany. Over 900 East Germans, who were waiting in Hungary to cross the border into Austria, took advantage of the picnic to walk across the border through the forest without being stopped. Many of those who came were young families with children. The event caused a chain reaction in East Germany that ultimately resulted in the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.
The idea of opening the border at a ceremony and testing the Soviet Union's response came from Ferenc Mészáros of the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) and Otto von Habsburg, then the President of the Paneuropean Union. They brought up the idea to Miklós Németh, then the Hungarian Prime Minister, who also promoted the idea. The Austrian Paneuropean Union and the MDF took care of advertising the event with leaflets that were distributed in Hungary.
The Pan-European Picnic was a significant event in the fall of communist governments in Central and Eastern Europe. It was the first time that the heavily guarded border between Austria and Hungary was opened, allowing people to cross freely between the two countries. The dismantling of the electric fence along Hungary's 240-kilometre-long border with Austria was the first fissure in the "Iron Curtain" that had divided Europe since the end of World War II.
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The fence restricted the movement of East Germans
The fence between Hungary and Austria was a physical manifestation of the "Iron Curtain" that divided post-war Europe. The removal of this fence in 1989 signalled the end of communist governments in Central and Eastern Europe and the beginning of European reunification.
Prior to the fence's removal, East Germans were kept under tight surveillance, with very little opportunity to travel. The fence restricted their movement, but when Hungary started dismantling its border fortifications with Austria in May 1989, thousands of East Germans were inspired to escape their country. They headed to Hungary, hoping to travel west to Austria and West Germany.
On 27 June 1989, the Hungarian Foreign Minister Gyula Horn and his Austrian counterpart, Alois Mock, cut through a section of the barbed wire fence in a symbolic ceremony. This act highlighted Hungary's decision to begin dismantling its border surveillance. The fence removal meant that it was now easier for Hungarians to cross into Austria for goods and services. Many Hungarians took advantage of this new freedom, as evidenced by the numerous cars seen in Austrian towns with washing machines strapped to them.
The most significant crossing came on 19 August 1989, during the Pan-European Picnic. This picnic was a peace demonstration and a symbolic gesture of European unity, organised as a meeting of Germans, Austrians, and Hungarians at the border. A border gate was opened, and over 900 East Germans on holiday in Hungary rushed the border, escaping into Austria and then travelling safely to West Germany. This mass exodus was the largest since the Berlin Wall was built in 1961, and it infuriated East German officials, who feared a return to the days before the Wall when thousands of East Germans fled daily to West Berlin.
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Frequently asked questions
The fence between Hungary and Austria was a physical manifestation of the "Iron Curtain" that divided Europe after World War II. This fence was a symbol of the division between the Communist bloc in the East and the West.
The removal of the fence began in May 1989, and on June 27, 1989, the foreign ministers of Hungary and Austria, Gyula Horn and Alois Mock, respectively, held a symbolic fence-cutting ceremony at the border crossing in Sopron, Hungary.
The removal of the fence had a significant impact. It was the first fissure in the "Iron Curtain" and marked the beginning of the end for communist governments in Central and Eastern Europe. On August 19, 1989, during the Pan-European Picnic, over 900 East Germans rushed through the open border into Austria and then traveled to West Germany. This event caused a chain reaction that ultimately led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany.
