Page "Günter Schabowski" Paragraph 6

He read the note aloud at the end of the press conference.

One of the reporters asked when the regulations would come into effect.

After a few seconds ' pause, Schabowski assumed it would be the same day based on the wording of the note and replied: “ As far as I know effective immediately, without delay ( sofort, unverzüglich )”.

After further questions from journalists, he confirmed that the regulations included the border crossings into West Berlin, which he had not mentioned until then.

Accounts differ on who asked that question.

Both Riccardo Ehrman, the Berlin correspondent of the ANSA news agency, and German tabloid reporter Peter Brinkmann, were sitting on the front row at the press conference, and claimed to have asked when the regulations would come into force.

However, most of the attendees agree that it was actually NBC's Tom Brokaw who asked the question.

Later, Schabowski agreed to a live interview with Brokaw.

Clearly flustered, he asked his assistant to reread the note.

However, when Brokaw pressed him, Schabowski repeated that the regulations were to take effect " immediately.