On August 19, 1989, a symbolic event known as the "Paneuropean Picnic" led to a significant breach in the Iron Curtain, allowing over 600 East German citizens to flee to Austria.

This event, orchestrated by Hungarian opposition groups and supported by figures like Otto von Habsburg, tested the reactions of Hungary's communist regime and the Soviet Union.

As Hungarian border guards stood by, the unguarded crossing at Sopron became a gateway to freedom, marking the largest mass escape since the Berlin Wall's construction in 1961. The event not only symbolized the weakening grip of communist regimes in Eastern Europe but also paved the way for Hungary to open its western borders permanently on September 11, 1989. This pivotal moment is commemorated by a memorial park in Mörbisch, Austria, reminding Europe of the courage and hope that led to the fall of the Iron Curtain.