Our studio guest is Peter Fraebel-Simon, a longtime resident of Leipzig

DW: Peter Fräbel-Simon, you're currently preparing the one-thousand-year anniversary of Leipzig, which takes place next year - one thousand years! What significance does the Fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago have in this context?

Peter Fräbel-Simon: In a historical view, it's only a small part, but for the people they live now, are 25 years an important part of their life.

It really matters, and, obviously, I mean, it was quite dramatic, what happened back then. I watched it on television in western Germany, so I can only imagine how dramatic and worrying it must've been to go to the streets under the communist system and demand freedom. You were there. Were you ever worried that things could go wrong?

Yes, we had fear in this time. Also, we have seen some months before in China Tiananmen Square,...

Tiananmen Square.

... and but, you see also 70,000 people demonstrate every Monday, and it's a very strong and impressive situation for you, and you remember every time these days.

It must've been very empowering: 70,000 people, and, of course, it also spread to other cities. But I keep wondering, why did it happen in 1989? The Communist Germany existed for forty years - more than forty years - and suddenly people say, now, it's time to change things - why?

We had to have enough food. It was not a economic problem at first, but the people wanted to have more press freedom; they wanted elections - free elections, and they wanted another political system.

Would you do it again? In hindsight, looking back? Was it the right decision

Yes, it was the right decision. If you see now this beautiful town, and if you feel how grow up this city and this part of Germany, it was the right way.

It was the right decision. Alright, Peter Fräbel-Simon, thank you very much, and best of luck for your one-thousand-year anniversary next year."+++

+++SOT Peter Fräbel-Simon+++

"Thank you very much.