Günter Schabowski’s 9 November 1989 press conference began at 18:00 CET.
The East German official held the event at the International Press Center in East Berlin. It was broadcast live on East German television and radio, allowing millions of people to hear the confusing announcement about new travel regulations. The conference lasted roughly an hour and initially focused on party and government matters rather than the border opening.
Near the end, Schabowski read from a note describing new rules that would allow East Germans to travel abroad. When asked when the rules would take effect, he replied that they would take effect “immediately” or “without delay,” although the intended procedure was more complicated and had not been fully explained to him. The statement prompted crowds to gather at border crossings that evening.
The press conference is often remembered mainly for the 18:53 exchange that triggered the crisis at the Wall. That was the time of the crucial question and answer, not the start of the event. The conference itself began at 18:00 CET.