Textual/Visual Analysis-
One interesting thing to note is that, while the Soviet control of East Germany was a major event during the Cold War, there isn't a large amount of visual documentation during the time. This may very well be because of the (literal) wall that separated East Germans from the rest of the world. They were cut off from most others and were unable to communicate with anyone outside of East Germany. Reporting from within the wall was limited and certainly biased.
In the few pictures we do find, we see unified crowds of people-hundreds and thousands. They are passionate-yet there seem to be few shots where we see aggression or shouting. A perfect embodiment of a "Peaceful Revolution". Many signs and banners with various slogans and saying but all the same message: the Germans are done.
In some signs, we see the cry of the revolution "We are the People" or a resounding "Germany: the United Fatherland". Both statements for unity and a call for change. In others, there are jabs taken at the recent elections, "Elections are for idiots" (roughly translated), a call to reject the results of the rigged polls and take action into thier own hands.
Arguments-
"Peaceful Revolution"- The very name of the movement draws questions. How can a revolution-one against an oppressive government ever be peaceful? Wouldn't any protests generate arrests or even worse-executions from the GDR (German Democratic Republic)? It was certainly a fear they had to face, but they were actually being smart.
No measure of manpower the citizens had could ever match thier military force that ruled over them. There was no hope for success through force.
But they knew they could wear out and pressure the government through thier numbers as citizens. They knew the GDR was not an irrational power-meaning that all thier actions were rationalized through thier own thought process. They wouldn't randomly kill a citizen as a show of power. Yes- they mercilessly shot any person who escaped over the wall, but they had the wall....it was a black and white, line in the sand kind of statement. "Cross the wall, get killed. Stay here, live."
So as long as they followed the rules, as long as they didn't give the military a reason to kill them, they could protest. And that is what they did.
"We are the People"-
This was thier battle cry. It was a statement with a two fold message. One, "We". "WE are the people". A message of unity. In a country with a class system this message was for everyone. Everyone was together. For those who were afraid to be part of a small movement easily crushed, these words gave inspiration and courage to each other that they were not alone in this.
Second, "THE People". This was a message for the government. They were the people. The people this "Democratic Republic" was supposed to represent. After having elections obviously skewed, they knew thier voice was being ignored. This battle cry stood as a subtle reminder that THEY are the PEOPLE. And they will not stand for it anymore.
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