The Berlin WallThe Berlin Wall

Caroline MathewCaroline Mathew

The Communists in East Berlin were making

it increasingly difficult for transportation

between East Berlin and West Berlin.

At the end of World War II, Berlin, was

divided into four quarters, each controlled

by the Allies and the Soviet Union.

Condition in East Berlin during the 50s Condition in East Berlin during the 50s

They feared that too many skilled

workmen were moving to parts of West

Germany.

Why Was it Built?Why Was it Built?Millions of East Berlin citizens escaped the harsh Communist regime, and fled to West Germany.

The purpose was to cut off West Berlin from the rest of East Germany.

Many people in East Berlin saw that life in West Berlin was much better and that people in West Berlin had much more freedom.

From 1949 to 1961, as many as 2.6 million people escaped to West Germany or West Berlin.

To prevent more people from fleeing Communist control into West Germany, East Germany erected the Berlin Wall, completely encircling West Berlin.

Purpose of the WallPurpose of the Wall

The Inner German Border (IGB) was the frontier between East Germany and West Germany. It was established in 1945, and remained in force until 1990.

The border was a physical representation The border was a physical representation of Winston Churchill’s metaphor of an Iron of Winston Churchill’s metaphor of an Iron Curtain, separating Eastern and Western Curtain, separating Eastern and Western Germany during the Cold War. It marked Germany during the Cold War. It marked the boundary between the two ideologies the boundary between the two ideologies – Communism and Democracy– Communism and Democracy

What Did It Represent?What Did It Represent?

What Were the Impacts of the Wall?

1. The wall separated families. Once the wall was erected no one was allowed to cross it. This meant that if families lived in different districts of Germany, they could no longer see each other.

2. The Communists felt that the Wall was a protective shell around East Berlin.

3. However, some felt that it was more like a prison wall.

4. The West reaction was different. They were relieved.

It’s not a very nice solution, but a wall is a whole lot better

than a war!

Many people in East Germany tried to escape

into West Germany. However, there were

guards at the Wall at all times. Thousands of people were arrested or even shot

down for attempting to cross the Wall

The Fall of the Berlin WallThe Fall of the Berlin Wall

In June 1987, in a speech at the Brandenburg Gate commemorating the 750th anniversary of Berlin, President Ronald Reagan challenged Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the Soviet Union, to tear down the Berlin Wall.

Two years later, in September 1989, a string of protest demonstrations

broke out all over East Germany. This was the start of what the East

Germans call the “Peaceful Revolution”.

By November, 1989, protests had increased

significantly.

Soon enough, the East Germans were forced to open a number of

new border crossings. From then on, Germans were allowed to cross from the East to the West without a visa.

Gradually, the guards of the Wall became more lax, tolerating

increasing demolitions and illegal border crossings through holes in

the wall.

On June 13th, 1990, the East Germans officially started

dismantling the Wall at Bernauer Straße. The Fall of the Berlin Wall was the first step to the reunification of Germany,

which was concluded on October 3rd, 1990. The

dismantling continued until November 1991. Only a few

sections and towers were left standing as memorials.

What Significance Did the Fall of the Berlin Wall Have?

When the Berlin Wall fell, it heralded the

end of the Cold War, which ended a couple of years later, in 1991.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall also symbolized

the end and dismantling of the Communist Bloc in

Eastern Europe, namely Germany.

When the Wall fell it meant that the city of Berlin could reunite. This also reunited many families which

may have been separated when the Wall was erected. Germany was

once again a united nation.

The End