The Berlin Wall
Gabriel Gullion
On August 13th, 1961, East German construction workers began destroying streets to make way for barriers which were added during the night. This was the start of the Berlin wall which not only divided Germany but the rest of the world.
After the Nazis were defeated in World War II, each victorious country occupied a section of Germany. Allies on the west promoted liberal market economies, while the Soviet Union in the east, intended to surround themselves with like-minded communist countries. As the relationships of the allies in the east and west weakened, they formed a divide of Germany. The allies locating the west side of Germany formed the Federal Republic of Germany. The Soviets on the east side formed the German Democratic Republic. Trade was restricted by checkpoint between the two sides which formed a barrier known as the Iron Curtain. |
Chancellor Willy Brandt
Curated strategy and regulations within the Basic Treaty of 1972. |
The post-war agreement made Berlin, the former capital of Germany, a shared piece of land between the two sides even though it was located within the east. People of Berlin could freely move between the borders and east and West Germany. While the allies in the west focused on reconstructing West Germany, the Soviets withdrew resources, making its economy less competitive. This resulted in the displacement of 3.5 million people moving from east to west Germany by 1961.
East Germany noticed the problem they were facing and decided to close the borders. They soon started the construction of the Berlin wall. It stretched 27 miles through the divide of Berlin and another 69 miles of fencing surrounded western Berlin. The barbed wire and mesh fencing completely surrounded the western part of the city. By 1965 the Soviets upgraded their wall to 12-foot high concrete barricades topped with a smooth concrete pipe to prevent climbing. Within the following weeks, the wall was strengthened with spike strips, guards dogs, landmines, 20 bunkers, and 302 individual guard towers. To allow a clear line of sight for the guards in the watchtowers, the Soviets demolished a 330-foot area in front of the wall. Many tried to escape East Berlin. By 1989, 5,000 had escaped and 138 had died in the attempt. Although the wall had stabilized the eastern economy, their reputation was effected and many looked at them as an example of communist repression.
In 1972, the east and west sign the Basic Treaty of 1972, which sought to develop normal relations between the two sides. The eastern side gradually allowed visits between the wall but discouraged it. By the end of the 1980’s, the demolition of similar regimes caused massive protests on the eastern side, which forced the Soviets to make travel permits easier to obtain. However, the announcement of this brought thousands of protesters to the wall crossings and the guards were forced to let them through. On October 1990, Germany was officially reunified, with the fall of the Soviet Union occurring soon after.
East Germany noticed the problem they were facing and decided to close the borders. They soon started the construction of the Berlin wall. It stretched 27 miles through the divide of Berlin and another 69 miles of fencing surrounded western Berlin. The barbed wire and mesh fencing completely surrounded the western part of the city. By 1965 the Soviets upgraded their wall to 12-foot high concrete barricades topped with a smooth concrete pipe to prevent climbing. Within the following weeks, the wall was strengthened with spike strips, guards dogs, landmines, 20 bunkers, and 302 individual guard towers. To allow a clear line of sight for the guards in the watchtowers, the Soviets demolished a 330-foot area in front of the wall. Many tried to escape East Berlin. By 1989, 5,000 had escaped and 138 had died in the attempt. Although the wall had stabilized the eastern economy, their reputation was effected and many looked at them as an example of communist repression.
In 1972, the east and west sign the Basic Treaty of 1972, which sought to develop normal relations between the two sides. The eastern side gradually allowed visits between the wall but discouraged it. By the end of the 1980’s, the demolition of similar regimes caused massive protests on the eastern side, which forced the Soviets to make travel permits easier to obtain. However, the announcement of this brought thousands of protesters to the wall crossings and the guards were forced to let them through. On October 1990, Germany was officially reunified, with the fall of the Soviet Union occurring soon after.
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- U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/berlinwall.
- “History of the Berlin Wall and Its Fall Visualized with Videos and Images - Rbb.” History of the Berlin Wall and Its Fall Visualized with Videos and Images - Rbb, www.the-berlin-wall.com/.
- “The Berlin Wall.” BBC News, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/history/places/berlin_wall.