July is the month when Americans turn their attention to fireworks, outdoor campfires for s’mores, grilling burgers, and festive parades. We look to symbols like the majestic Bald Eagle and the Liberty Bell as icons of strength and unity. But did you know that America gifted the Germans with a similar Liberty Bell in the early days of the Cold War?
Commissioned by the National Committee for Free Europe, the Freedom Bell was hung in Rathaus Schoneberg, which served as the seat of government in West Berlin in 1950. Written on the bell were words from Abraham Lincoln: “That this world Under God shall have a new birth of freedom.”
The bell was cast in the UK but was sent to New York for a coast-to-coast tour through 26 American cities to facilitate fundraising for the Crusade for Freedom campaign. The money collected supported Radio Free Europe (RFE). Supporters could sign the “Declaration of Freedom” document to express their commitment to “freedom” and opposition to “aggression and tyranny.” The campaign collected 16 million signatures. Freedom Bell – Berlin, Germany – Atlas Obscura Eisenhower’s Campaign for Freedom campaign publicity trip contributed $1,317,000 to the expansion of RFE.
Installed on October 21, 1950, the Freedom bell rang for the first time three days later, on United Nations Day with a crowd of over 400,000 Berliners. The peals were broadcast around the world on RFE. Since then, the Freedom Bell has rung every day at noon in addition to midnight on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Freedom Bell – Berlin, Germany – Atlas Obscura
Another American connection with Germany’s Freedom Bell is that is has sounded at other significant times such as the famous John F Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech on June 26, 1963. File:Ich bin ein Berliner Speech (June 26, 1963) John Fitzgerald Kennedy trimmed.theora.ogv – Wikimedia Commons His audience was about 120,000 people at the Rathaus. And even though popular folklore touted Kennedy for using the word “Berliner” to be misconstrued as a German jelly doughnut, the urban legend emerged several decades after the actual 1963 speech. The German word for that type of doughnut is “Pfannkuchen” and the residents of Berlin would have understood his meaning completely. Ich bin ein Berliner – Wikipedia
The same area then hosted spontaneous mourners when he was assassinated weeks later. Within days, the plaza was renamed John F Kennedy Platz. The Freedom Bell later rang to mark German Reunification in 1990, and for the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
So, if you are celebrating Freedom this month, remember bells ring out everywhere for this privilege. Have a blessed summer. Let Freedom Ring!
German American Schatz 