Austrian journalist Ewald König was the only correspondent to successfully obtain accreditation in both West and East Germany. He commuted between his homes in Bonn and East Berlin and wrote a series of four books as a contemporary witness.

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On August 13, the 65th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall, he will read from and discuss his experiences: his eccentric neighbors on Leipziger Straße, the myths of the Schabowski press conference on November 9, 1989, the wild night the Wall fell, Angela Merkel’s transition from science to politics ("I want nothing to do with the CDU"), Chancellor Helmut Kohl being in the wrong place at the wrong time when the Wall fell, and much more.

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WHEN: Thursday, August 13, 2026, 5:30 PM (Doors open: 5:00 PM)

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WHERE: Café NOVA, Giesebrechtstraße 3, 10629 Berlin (formerly Ristorante Tre, where Angela Merkel was a regular visitor)

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LANGUAGE: German (with a slight Austrian accent)

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COST: Admission €10 (food and drinks at the café are self-pay)

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BOOK TABLE: The four books are available for purchase individually or as a set. The set is offered exclusively for this event at a special price (€50 instead of €74) and can be signed upon request.