The House of History in Bonn is involved in a legal dispute concerning a handwritten note by East German official Günter Schabowski, which he used during a press conference on November 9, 1989, where he announced the opening of the Berlin Wall. The museum has refused to disclose how it acquired this historically significant note, resulting in legal challenges. After losing two lawsuits, the case is now advancing to the Federal Administrative Court in Germany, where the ruling could imply important precedents regarding the access to historical documents.

The controversy centers around the lack of an official document, as Schabowski's note was never entered into the federal archive due to its informal nature. The journalist who is investigating this matter, Reporter Saure, seeks to trace the paper's journey and its significance in the context of media representation of the momentous event that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The case underscores the tension between institutions holding historical artifacts and the public's right to access information pertinent to their understanding of history.

As the case escalates to higher courts, it raises broader questions about transparency and accountability in preserving and sharing historical records, particularly those that cover pivotal moments in German reunification. This legal fight may set significant precedents for how similar cases are handled in the future, especially concerning documents that have defined national narratives and memories of historical events.