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David Bowie: German Foreign Office Thanks Late Singer For 'Helping To Bring Down The Berlin Wall'

Germany Thanks David Bowie For 'Helping To Bring Down The Berlin Wall'
Kathryn Snowdon
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The German Foreign Office has thanked David Bowie for "helping to bring down the Berlin Wall", referencing the late legendary rock star's iconic 1987 performance of 'Heroes' in the divided capital.

The government paid tribute to the 69-year-old on Monday after the world learned that the rock legend had passed away following an 18-month battle with cancer.

The German Foreign Office tweeted: "Good-bye, David Bowie. You are now among #Heroes. Thank you for helping to bring down the #wall."

The tweet also featured a link to a YouTube video of the star's performance.

Bowie moved to Germany in the 1970s, during the height of the Cold War.

Bowie's recording studio was near to the Berlin Wall and he released three albums while living in the country. His second album was Heroes, released in 1978.

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David Bowie performs 'Heroes' in Berlin

In 1987, Bowie performed in West Berlin, just a short distance from the wall. He told the crowd in German: “We send our wishes to all our friends who are on the other side of the wall,” before launching into Heroes.

There are rumours that Bowie's rendition of Heroes inspired those on the other side of the wall to demand that it be taken down - although it was still another two years before Germany became unified once more.

A few days later, US president Ronald Reagan demanded that Germany "tear down this wall".

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David Bowie Tributes Around The World
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The Ritzy Cinema in Brixton pays tribute to local hero David Bowie (credit:Rex)
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The Ritzy Cinema in Brixton pays tribute to local hero David Bowie (credit:Rex)
Britain Bowie Obit(03 of26)
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Flowers are placed where the Ziggy Stardust album cover of David Bowie was photographed in London, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. David Bowie, the other-worldly musician who broke pop and rock boundaries with creative musicianship, nonconformity, striking visuals and a genre-bending persona, died of cancer Sunday. He was 69. The singer, who was born David Jones at the family home in the Brixton area of London, came of age in the glam rock era of the early 1970s. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
Britain Bowie Obit(04 of26)
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A fan stands in front of a plaque commemorating the launch of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and where the album cover was photographed in London, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. David Bowie, the other-worldly musician who broke pop and rock boundaries with creative musicianship, nonconformity, striking visuals and a genre-bending persona, died of cancer Sunday. He was 69. The singer, who was born David Jones at the family home in the Brixton area of London, came of age in the glam rock era of the early 1970s. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
Britain Bowie Obit(05 of26)
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A man places flowers where the Ziggy Stardust album cover of David Bowie was photographed in London, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. David Bowie, the other-worldly musician who broke pop and rock boundaries with creative musicianship, nonconformity, striking visuals and a genre-bending persona, died of cancer Sunday. He was 69. The singer, who was born David Jones at the family home in the Brixton area of London, came of age in the glam rock era of the early 1970s. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:Frank Augstein/AP)
David Bowie death(06 of26)
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A woman lays flowers underneath a commemorative plaque to David Bowie's iconic creation, Ziggy Stardust, in Heddon Street, London, marking the 40th anniversary of the album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
David Bowie death(07 of26)
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Tributes are left outside 40 Stansfield Road, Brixton, London, the former home of David Bowie, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
David Bowie death(08 of26)
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A woman holds a Ten Brixton Pound note featuring a picture of David Bowie by a mural of David Bowie on the wall of a Morley's store in Brixton, London, the singers birthplace, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
David Bowie death(09 of26)
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Tributes are left outside 40 Stansfield Road, Brixton, London, the former home of David Bowie, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
David Bowie death(10 of26)
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Flowers are left underneath a commemorative plaque to David Bowie's iconic creation, Ziggy Stardust, in Heddon Street, London, marking the 40th anniversary of the album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
David Bowie death(11 of26)
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Tributes are left outside 40 Stansfield Road, Brixton, London, the former home of David Bowie, after the rock star died following an 18-month battle with cancer. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
BRITAIN-MUSIC-OBIT-BOWIE(12 of26)
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Floral tributes are left beneath a mural of British singer David Bowie, painted by Australian street artist James Cochran, aka Jimmy C, following the announcement of Bowie's death, in Brixton, south London, on January 11, 2016. British music icon David Bowie died of cancer at the age of 69, drawing an outpouring of tributes for the innovative star famed for groundbreaking hits like 'Ziggy Stardust' and his theatrical shape-shifting style. AFP PHOTO / CHRIS RATCLIFFERESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION, TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION / AFP / CHRIS RATCLIFFE (Photo credit should read CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHRIS RATCLIFFE via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-MUSIC-OBIT-BOWIE(13 of26)
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Floral tributes are left beneath a mural of British singer David Bowie, following the announcement of Bowie's death, in Brixton, south London, on January 11, 2016. British music icon David Bowie died of cancer at the age of 69, drawing an outpouring of tributes for the innovative star famed for groundbreaking hits like 'Ziggy Stardust' and his theatrical shape-shifting style. AFP PHOTO / CHRIS RATCLIFFE / AFP / CHRIS RATCLIFFE (Photo credit should read CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHRIS RATCLIFFE via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-MUSIC-OBIT-BOWIE(14 of26)
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Tributes are left beneath a mural of British singer David Bowie, following the announcement of Bowie's death, in Brixton, south London, on January 11, 2016. British music icon David Bowie died of cancer at the age of 69, drawing an outpouring of tributes for the innovative star famed for groundbreaking hits like 'Ziggy Stardust' and his theatrical shape-shifting style. AFP PHOTO / CHRIS RATCLIFFE / AFP / CHRIS RATCLIFFE (Photo credit should read CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHRIS RATCLIFFE via Getty Images)
BRITAIN-MUSIC-OBIT-BOWIE(15 of26)
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A man takes a photograph on his smartphone of floral tributes left beneath a mural of British singer David Bowie, painted by Australian street artist James Cochran, aka Jimmy C, following the announcement of Bowie's death, in Brixton, south London, on January 11, 2016. British music icon David Bowie died of cancer at the age of 69, drawing an outpouring of tributes for the innovative star famed for groundbreaking hits like 'Ziggy Stardust' and his theatrical shape-shifting style. AFP PHOTO / CHRIS RATCLIFFERESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION, TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION / AFP / CHRIS RATCLIFFE (Photo credit should read CHRIS RATCLIFFE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CHRIS RATCLIFFE via Getty Images)
SEAN SUEN Presented By GQ China - Backstage - London Collections Men AW16(16 of26)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: A model with a tribute to the late David Bowie written on his back backstage ahead of the SEAN SUEN presented by GQ China show during The London Collections Men AW16 at Victoria House on January 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images)
SEAN SUEN Presented By GQ China - Backstage - London Collections Men AW16(17 of26)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: A model with a tribute to the late David Bowie written on his back backstage ahead of the SEAN SUEN presented by GQ China show during The London Collections Men AW16 at Victoria House on January 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images)
SEAN SUEN Presented By GQ China - Backstage - London Collections Men AW16(18 of26)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: A model with a tribute to the late David Bowie written on his back backstage ahead of the SEAN SUEN presented by GQ China show during The London Collections Men AW16 at Victoria House on January 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images)
GERMANY-BOWIE-BRITAIN-MUSIC-PEOPLE-OBIT(19 of26)
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A resident leaves the building among tributes to British rock legend David Bowie leftoutside his former home in Berlin's Hauptstrasse 155 on January 11, 2016.British rock music legend David Bowie has died after a long battle with cancer, his official Twitter and Facebook accounts said. / AFP / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
GERMANY-BRITAIN-MUSIC-PEOPLE-BOWIE-OBIT(20 of26)
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David-Bowie-fan Jamie Young puts down a tribute to British rock legend David Bowie outside his former home in Berlin's Hauptstrasse 155 on January 11, 2016.British rock music legend David Bowie has died after a long battle with cancer, his official Twitter and Facebook accounts said. / AFP / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
GERMANY-BOWIE-BRITAIN-MUSIC-PEOPLE-OBIT(21 of26)
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Tributes to British rock legend David Bowie are seen outside his former home in Berlin's Hauptstrasse 155 on January 11, 2016.British rock music legend David Bowie has died after a long battle with cancer, his official Twitter and Facebook accounts said. / AFP / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
GERMANY-BOWIE(22 of26)
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David-Bowie-fan Dirk Turnage puts down a tribute to British rock legend David Bowie outside his former home in Berlin's Hauptstrasse 155 on January 11, 2016.British rock music legend David Bowie has died after a long battle with cancer, his official Twitter and Facebook accounts said. / AFP / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images)
David Bowie Remembered On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame(23 of26)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 10: David Bowie remembered on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 10, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) (credit:Araya Diaz via Getty Images)
David Bowie Remembered On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame(24 of26)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 10: David Bowie remembered on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 10, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) (credit:Araya Diaz via Getty Images)
David Bowie Remembered On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame(25 of26)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 10: David Bowie remembered on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 10, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) (credit:Araya Diaz via Getty Images)
David Bowie Remembered On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame(26 of26)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 10: David Bowie remembered on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 10, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) (credit:Araya Diaz via Getty Images)

It was confirmed on Monday morning that Bowie had passed away after battling cancer.

A statement on his website read: "David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer.

"While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief."

While appearances by the icon had become rarer in recent years - his last live performance was at a New York charity event in 2006 - Bowie released his latest album, 'Blackstar', on Friday - to coincide with his 69th birthday. It comprised only seven songs, but had been well received by critics.

The star had reportedly been diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago. In the time since then, he had completed an album, collaborated on the musical, Lazarus, based on his own songs, and composed the theme tune for the European drama 'The Last Panthers'.

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