Retirement of Bernhard Pfahler: A life for the BRK in Neuburg

Retirement of Bernhard Pfahler: A life for the BRK in Neuburg

November 9, 1989 will never be forgotten in German history. On this day, the Berlin Wall fell, which separated families for years and blocked the path to freedom for many people. The Peaceful revolution led to the opening of the inner German borders and thus to the overcoming of the Iron Curtain. In the weeks and months after the historic change, people streamed across the border crossings in West Berlin and into the Federal Republic. Hundreds of refugees found a new home in Neuburg, including many who were housed in the Tilly barracks.

Bernhard Pfahler, who was a temporary soldier in the Red Cross command staff at the time, was one of the helpers who supported refugees during this challenging time. He provided people with hygiene products and clothing and brought a bit of hope back into their lives. In his 30-year career at BRK district association Neuburg-Schrobenhausen, of which he worked as organizational manager for 20 years, he made a name for himself and is valued by Mayor Bernhard Gmehling as “Mr. BRK”.

A look back at three decades

After numerous assignments at major events in the district, Pfahler is now retiring and looking back on the eventful time. The Wall was not just a physical structure, but a symbol of the division of Germany, tearing many families apart and causing suffering and uncertainty. During the time of the Wall, which consisted of two walls and formed a 155 kilometer long, heavily guarded death strip around West Berlin, attempts to escape were often paid for with one's life. At least 235 people died trying to get to the West, highlighting the urgency and pain of escape.

The opening of the wall was not only the beginning of the so-called turning point, but also a signal for the collapse of communism in Central and Eastern Europe. Protests had been increasing in the GDR for a long time and people were demanding more freedom. November 9, 1989 became the symbolic climax of these efforts, as the world waited for Günter Schabowski's press conference. His misleading statement that the border crossings were now open at all times led directly to a rush to the wall.

A new chapter for Neuburg

This time was also a turning point for Neuburg. The city opened its doors to refugees in need and also provided an important contact point in the Tilly barracks. During this challenging time, Pfahler was an important anchor for many who had to flee their homeland. Now that he is retiring, he leaves behind a legacy of compassion and tireless service that will long live with the people of his hometown.

The memories of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the events that followed are deeply imprinted in the collective memory of Germans. The fall of the Wall was not only the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new time characterized by hope and the longing for unity. Even today, it still takes courage and commitment to promote coexistence in a diverse society - a commitment that Bernhard Pfahler lived and is now taking with him into retirement.