On July 2, 1990, over 5 Albanians defied one of Eastern Europe's most brutal regimes by entering Western embassies in Tirana in search of freedom.
About 3.199 of them took refuge in the German embassy, which became a symbol of hope and rebellion against fear.
At the center of that event that went down in history was German Ambassador Werner Daum, a diplomat who chose to act differently from official instructions.
In a long and heartfelt interview, the ambassador recalls how he made the decision to leave the door of the German embassy slightly open, as he felt that the Albanian people were on the verge of exploding against a rotten and cruel regime.
He saw with his own eyes the change that was happening in the minds and hearts of people, especially the young.
Without authorization from Berlin, Daum protected the refugees in the embassy and organized their transport to Germany, simultaneously challenging a state that was still trying to maintain control by force.
"I knew we were in great danger. The Albanian army wanted to attack the embassies. But I also felt that the moment had come – and that open door was the spark," he said.
In his account, the former ambassador describes Albania at the time as a theater of the absurd where the people performed under the pressure of fear. He admits that the aid he offered was not only humanitarian, but also political – an act he believed would help bring down a regime that was more like a giant prison.
Werner Daum says he is proud to have been part of that historic moment.
He remains a respected name in the collective memory of Albanians – a friend who is not forgotten.
Today, Albania is moving towards the European Union and, according to him, the dream of those thousands of people who entered the embassy was not in vain.
"Albania is now part of the free world. And the future is in the hands of the new generation," he said on Top Channel.
