The berlin wall stood as a symbol of oppression for almost three decades. Nonetheless, the number of defectors continues to mount the last gap as the border between west and east germany is now closed, west berlin is the only remaining option for those. The term berlin wall describes both the fortifications at the border around west berlin in general as well as the front wall vorderes sperrelement of the death strip in. Since the end of the war, berlin had been a constant, running sore in eastwest. The rise and fall of the berlin wall and why it matters today. A brief history of the berlin crisis of 1961 neil carmichael national declassification center national records and archives administration autumn 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the political crisis that resulted in the erection of the berlin wall which divided that german city for 28 years. She has appeared on cnn, cspan, the history channel, deutschlandradio, and spiegel tv discussing the berlin wall. Its purpose was to keep disaffected east germans from fleeing to the west.
Despite the initial euphoria, the road to recovery for east germany was long and. Faced with growing demonstrations, east german border guards opened the borders. Berlin crisis of 1961, cold war conflict between the soviet union and the united states concerning the status of the divided german city of berlin. It culminated in the construction of the berlin wall. Place divided germany and the berlin wall directions. Center of the national archives and records administration and the. The berlin wall went up in the early hours of august, 1961, and was constantly modified and reinforced until it fell 28 years later, having cost the lives of at least 6 people who tried to. A concise history of germany cambridge university press. On august, 1961 the communist east german government started to build a wall, physically separating west berlin from east berlin and the rest of east germany, as a response to massive numbers of east german citizens fleeing into west berlin as a way to escape. Creating a nation of divided citizens, the imposing wall is one of the most iconic structures of the 21st century and its reach could be felt all around the world. Germanhistory this book provides a clear and informative guide to the twists and turns of german history from the early middle ages tothepresentday. The wall was perhaps the most enduring symbol of the cold war, and the moment in 1989. During this time, political tensions, great escapes and groundbreaking moments shaped the era. East germans fled from east to west germany, most via west berlin.
Erected in the dead of night on august, 1961, the berlin wall known as berliner mauer in german was a physical division between west berlin and east germany. A brief history of the berlin crisis of 1961 national archives. Willy brandt, then the mayor of west berlin, feared the wall would turn his city into a concentration camp. The berlin wall did prevent the majority of east germans from emigrating to the west, but it did not prevent them all. Constructed by the german democratic republic gdr, or east germany beginning august, 1961, the wall completely cut off west berlin by land from east germany and east berlin. During the history of the berlin wall, it is estimated that about 5,000 people made it safely across. Best things to do in berlin, germany for first time visitors. The rise and fall of the berlin wall st leonards college. Fall of the berlin wall history of western civilization ii. Berlin wall, german berliner mauer, barrier that surrounded west berlin and prevented access to it from east berlin and adjacent areas of east germany during the period from 1961 to 1989.
I am grateful to the german historical institute in washington, d. The beginning of the berlin wall multicultural germany project, uc. Helmut kohl, federal chancellor of west germany, attended the debate. According to the berlin wall memorial, 140 people died at the berlin wall or were killed there in connection with the border. Berliner mauer was a barrier constructed by the german democratic republic gdr, east germany starting on august 1961, that completely cut off by land west berlin from surrounding east germany and from east berlin. At 30 different stations along the wall trail inside the city, it tells the story of berlin s division, the construction of the wall, and how the wall fell. According to the berlin wall memorial, 140 people died at the berlin wall or were killed there in. On august, 1961, the communist government of the german democratic republic gdr, or east germany began to build a barbed wire and concrete antifascistischer schutzwall, or antifascist bulwark, between east and west berlin. The events that would lead to the building of the berlin wall began in world war ii. Read the paragraphs below and study the maps carefully. Excavations from 2008 suggest that the city may be even older than was previously assumed. One of the ugliest and most infamous symbols of the cold war was soon reduced to rubble that was quickly snatched up by souvenir hunters. The historical collections division hcd of cias information management. How many zones did the allied powers divide germany into.
Berlin wall simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. An exhibition on contemporary history presented by a border through germany the wall. Pdf the berlin wall a world divided, 19611989 queta. But hitler violated his treaty with russian ruler joseph stalin and invaded russia, pushing the soviets into an uneasy alliance with the other allies. Section 1 a fter winning world war ii, the allies divided germany into four separately administered zones. Delving into the history of the berlin wall is a step back into the past of a world struggling to recover. It was built in order to prevent people from fleeing east berlin. On the evening of november 9, 1989, east germany announced an easing of travel restrictions to the west, and thousands demanded passage though the berlin wall. Nazi germany was originally allied with communist russia against the allied nations of france, britain and the united states.
After watching the btn berlin wall story, students will respond to the. The berlin wall was a barrier that divided berlin from 1961 to 1989. Berliner mauer was a wall that separated the city of berlin in germany from 1961 to 1989. The berlin wall stood for nearly 30 years, dividing germany in half, including the city of berlin. The following day, celebrating germans began to tear the wall down. Pdf the berlin wall a world divided, 19611989 queta avila. Construction of the wall was commenced by the german democratic republic gdr, east germany on august 1961. Jubilant berliners climbed on top of the berlin wall, painted graffiti on it. It would take another reactionary, the cleverest one in german history. It separated the eastern half from the western half. Documents at the national archives documents at the national archives. Peaceful revolution and the fall of the wall show what civil courage and fighting for ones rights and freedoms can do.
Students will read the passage and then create a simple timeline using the dates and events given in the writing. The fall of the berlin wall is an important milestone in eu history and. East germany had erected a barbed wire border fence with the federal republic west germany as early as 1952. In 1987 both east and west berlin celebrated the citys 750th anniversary. It was on 9 november 1989, five days after half a million people gathered in east berlin in a mass protest, that the berlin wall dividing communist east germany from west germany crumbled. Though the fall of the berlin wall did not bring along the utopia many had hoped for, it is a symbolic moment for the victors of the cold war. In many ways it was the perfect symbol of the iron curtain that separated the democratic western countries and the communist countries of eastern europe throughout the cold war. Best hotels,sights,bars,restaurants,things to see and do, local secrets, online maps of berlin. Discover the more about the iron curtain and the cold war with these best documentaries about the berlin wall. Friendships and even families were torn apart by the line drawn between east germany s communist leaders and west germany s capitalist leaders. The berlin wall would become a symbol of ideological division and suppression of human rights during the cold war. At the end of world war two germany had been partitioned into four sectors controlled by america, britain, france and russia. Berlin s history has left the city with a polycentric organization and a highly eclectic array of architecture and buildings. Pdf this article examines how, in the latter part of the twentieth century, the german psychological sciences used the berlin wall to interpret.
History channel rise and fall of the berlin wall youtube. Berlin is divided by the western allies 1949 germany is divided into the federal republic and communist german democratic republic, with berlin stranded in the gdr. Founded in the th century, berlin has had an eventful history. Some early successful attempts were simple, like throwing a rope over the berlin wall. Both were founded near the beginning of the th century. The berlin wall history mile is a permanent exhibition in four languages. Standing as a symbol of oppression, the berlin wall divided germany for almost three decades. The original hotel adlon was one of the most famous hotels in europe. In order to understand why the berlin wall was built, we must first look at the events leading up.