The History of the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall which was built in 1961 is a real symbol of the Cold War. This 28-mile long wall separates Soviet-controlled East Berlin and West Berlin supported by the Allies.

The border is heavily guarded, even around the walls lined with barbed wire and minefields.

With the construction of this wall Germany is automatically divided into two. East Germans who used to have jobs in West Germany or vice versa could not work in their previous place. Similarly, families who live on two different sides cannot meet.

Around 191 people died trying to cross into West Berlin and around 5,000 were more successful. The existence of the Berlin wall itself lasted for thirty years.

Background on the Construction of the Berlin Wall
After World War II ended, Germany fell into Allied and Soviet influence. The Allies established their influence in the western part of Germany, while the Soviet in the east.

In May 1949, the West German government was formed with the capital in Bonn. Meanwhile on October 7, 1949 the East German communist government was formed with the capital in East Berlin.

Entering May 1952, the border between the two territories was closed. Only the border between East and West Berlin is still open and is the only main gate for traffic from the two regions.

In the years between 1949 and 1961, around 2.5 million East Germans fled East Germany and entered the West, including an ever-increasing number of skilled, professional and intellectual workers. It is feared that their presence could destroy the economic survival of the East German state. On the other hand, the East German government is also worried about the entry of the understanding of capitalism from the West German region.

In response, East Germany established a barrier to close East Germany's access to West Germany. The barrier was first built on August 12-13, 1961, as a result of a decision issued on August 12 by East Germany Volkskammer.

The first original wall was built of barbed wire and cinder blocks, then replaced by a series of 5 meter high concrete walls topped with barbed wire and guarded by a watchtower, gun cannons and mines.

In the 1980s, the Berlin Wall was coated with electricity and extended 28 miles (45 km) across Berlin and then extended for another 120 km to separate East and West Germany.

The fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall symbolizes the Cold War in Western Europe. The separation between the two regions results in a huge gap in prosperity.

In general, the population of West Germany is more prosperous and free than the population of East Germany. As a result, the East Germans tried to cross the barrier.

About 5,000 East Germans succeeded in crossing the Berlin Wall (by various means) and reached West Berlin safely, while 5,000 others were captured by East German authorities and 191 others were killed during a breakthrough attempt.

A wave of democratization that struck eastern Europe, resulted in the fall of communist power in East Germany in October 1989. On November 9, 1989, when the Cold War began to subside in Eastern Europe, a spokesman for the East Berlin Communist Party announced the opening of the country's borders with West Germany (including West Berlin ).


The opening of the barrier was celebrated with joy by the German population. More than 2 million residents from East Berlin visit West Berlin in a week to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall.

With the opening of this wall East German residents can freely travel to West Germany. Then the wall ceased to function as a political barrier between East and West Germany until it was finally destroyed. West and East Germany itself finally officially united on October 3, 1990.