Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was a large concrete barrier that surrounded West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. It separated West Berlin from East Berlin and East Germany. The wall had guard towers and fences to stop people from leaving East Germany. Many people tried to escape over the wall, and some unfortunately did not survive.

Before the wall was built, many people from East Germany had escaped to the West by crossing into West Berlin. The wall was built to stop this escape. Over time, the wall became a symbol of the division between Western and Eastern countries during a time called the Cold War.

In 1989, big changes began in nearby countries, and people in East Germany started to demand more freedom. On November 9, 1989, the government announced that people could cross the wall freely. Huge crowds from both sides gathered at the wall, celebrating and taking pieces of it as souvenirs. The opening of the wall helped lead to the reunification of Germany, which officially happened on October 3, 1990.

Background

Post-war Germany

After the end of World War II in Europe, Germany was split into four parts. Each part was controlled by one of the Allied powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin, located inside the Soviet part, was also split into four sections.

The Soviets and the other powers had different ideas. The Soviets did not agree with plans to rebuild Germany, while the Western powers worked together to rebuild their parts and supported the Marshall Plan.

Eastern Bloc and the Berlin airlift

Further information: Eastern Bloc and Berlin Blockade

After World War II, the Soviet Union set up governments in many countries it controlled, including East Germany. This began the Cold War, a time of tension between the Soviet-led Eastern Bloc and the Western powers, led by the United States.

Many people in East Germany wanted to move to the West because life was hard. In 1948, the Soviets blocked land roads to West Berlin, but the Western Allies flew in supplies to the city.

Emigration westward in the early 1950s

Main articles: Eastern Bloc emigration and defection and Eastern Bloc

In the early 1950s, many people left East Germany for the West. They wanted better lives and were afraid of being treated badly. This movement hurt East Germany's economy and caused more tension between East and West.

Erection of the inner German border

Further information: Inner German border and Emigration from the Eastern Bloc

In the early 1950s, many countries in Eastern Europe, including East Germany, began to control their borders more strictly. Before 1952, people could cross between East and West Germany quite easily. But in 1952, East Germany and the Soviet Union decided to close this border and put up a barbed-wire fence.

Berlin, however, stayed open. This made Berlin a busy place for people from East Germany who wanted to move to the West. Even with rules against it, many still found ways to leave through Berlin. By 1958, most people leaving East Germany did so through Berlin. This escape route was important because closing it would have disrupted important railway lines.

The people leaving were often young and well-educated, which worried East German leaders. They feared losing too many skilled workers, which could hurt their economy. This made it clear that something needed to be done to stop people from leaving.

Start of the construction (1961)

Main article: Berlin Crisis of 1961

In 1961, a leader of East Germany named Walter Ulbricht said no one planned to build a wall. But later, the leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, encouraged East Germany to build it.

On August 12, 1961, Ulbricht ordered the start of building the wall. At midnight, East German soldiers and workers closed the border between East and West Berlin. By the next morning, August 13, the border was sealed. They put up barbed wire and fences around the city.

The wall was built on East German land. Over the next few days, they started building concrete walls and other barriers.

With the wall built, most people in East Germany could no longer travel to West Germany. Families were separated, and many people lost their jobs. West Berlin became isolated, surrounded by East Germany. People in West Berlin protested the wall.

The United States sent officials and soldiers to show their support for West Berlin. The wall became a symbol of unfair control.

Structure and adjacent areas

The Berlin Wall was a long barrier—over 140 kilometers or 87 miles. It started as a simple fence but changed many times. By 1980, it was made of strong concrete and stood about 12 feet tall.

Guards watched from tall towers, and there were special areas to show if someone tried to pass. The Wall also had fences, sharp wires, and deep ditches to stop vehicles. Even today, pieces of this version can be seen in Berlin and other places.

The Wall separated West Berlin from areas outside, including parts of the state of Brandenburg. Many towns and cities near Berlin were close to where the Wall stood.

Official crossings and usage

See also: Berlin border crossings

There were nine places where people could cross between East and West Berlin. These crossings let people from West Berlin and West Germany visit East Berlin if they had the right permits. They also let people from East Germany visit West Berlin with permits. Each crossing had rules about who could use it.

The most famous crossing was Checkpoint Charlie at Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße. It was only for Allied personnel and foreigners. Other crossings existed between West Berlin and East Germany. These were used for travel between West Germany and West Berlin, visits into East Germany, trips to nearby countries like Poland and Czechoslovakia, and visits by East Germans into West Berlin if they had permits. After 1972, new crossings opened for transport and access.

Four highways connected West Berlin to West Germany, including the Berlin-Helmstedt highway. Travel was also possible by train and boat. Westerners could cross at Friedrichstraße station and Checkpoint Charlie. When the Wall was built, Berlin’s train networks were split. Some lines passed through East Berlin without stopping at stations, called “ghost stations.” Both networks met at Friedrichstraße, which became a major crossing point.

Crossing

West Germans and people from Western countries could visit East Germany, often needing a visa weeks ahead. Visas for day trips to East Berlin could be gotten at the border. East German authorities could refuse entry without giving a reason. In the 1980s, visitors from West Berlin had to exchange money at a poor rate.

West Berliners could not visit East Berlin at first. In 1963, they were allowed limited visits during Christmas. In 1971, West Berliners could apply for visas to visit East Berlin and East Germany more regularly, though permits could still be refused.

East Berliners and East Germans could not travel to West Berlin or West Germany at first. Over time, some exceptions were made, like for elderly people, family matters, or work reasons. They needed approval each time, which was not guaranteed. Even if travel was allowed, they could only exchange a small amount of money.

Citizens of other East European countries had similar rules, though the exceptions varied.

Allied Military Personal Crossing

Allied military personnel and officials could enter and leave East Berlin without East German checks, buying visas, or exchanging money. This was part of post-war agreements. Special rules were made to avoid recognizing East German authority.

Allied personnel could travel by road on the Helmstedt–Berlin highway or by rail on special duty trains that only ran at night. Entry into and exit from East Berlin was mainly through Checkpoint Charlie.

Defection attempts

Further information: List of deaths at the Berlin Wall

During the Wall’s time, many people successfully escaped to West Berlin. Some people died trying to cross the Wall.

The East German government told border guards to stop people trying to cross. One famous escape was by Conrad Schumann, a border guard who jumped the barbed wire in 1961. Others used tunnels, balloons, or even vehicles to escape.

Some escapes were dramatic. Wolfgang Engels stole an armored vehicle and drove it into the Wall in 1963. Thomas Krüger flew a small airplane to escape in 1979.

Escape attempts sometimes ended sadly. The last person shot trying to cross was Chris Gueffroy in 1989. The final death related to an escape attempt was Winfried Freudenberg, whose homemade balloon crashed in 1989.

Concerts by Western artists and growing anti-Wall sentiment

David Bowie, 1987

On June 6, 1987, musician David Bowie performed a concert near the Wall. Many people from East Berlin came, and this led to protests in the city. These protests showed that people wanted change, which helped lead to the end of the Wall.

Bruce Springsteen, 1988

On July 19, 1988, Bruce Springsteen and his band gave a concert in East Berlin. Over 300,000 people watched, and the show was on TV. Springsteen told the crowd he hoped all barriers would come down someday. This concert made many East Germans want more freedom.

David Hasselhoff, 1989

On December 31, 1989, actor and singer David Hasselhoff performed at a big concert with over 500,000 people on both sides of the Wall. He sang his popular song "Looking for Freedom" while standing on a tall crane above the Wall near the Brandenburg Gate.

Comments by politicians

Main articles: Ich bin ein Berliner and Tear down this wall!

On June 26, 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy gave a speech in West Berlin. He told the people the United States supported them. He said, "Ich bin ein Berliner!", meaning "I am a Berliner!" This showed that people who believe in freedom were connected to Berlin.

Later, in 1987, another U.S. President, Ronald Reagan, spoke near the Brandenburg Gate. He asked the leader of the Soviet Union to open the gate and tear down the Wall, hoping for more freedom.

Fall

Main article: Fall of the Berlin Wall

In the late 1980s, problems grew in countries ruled by communist governments. One example was in Poland, where people voted for a new government in 1989. In June 1989, Hungary began taking down fences on its border with Austria, making it easier for people to travel.

On 19 August 1989, a special event called the Pan-European Picnic happened. This event, suggested by Otto von Habsburg, tested how leaders would react. Because they did not stop people from leaving, many East Germans tried to escape through Hungary.

These events led to big protests in East Germany. At first, people protested because they wanted to leave East Germany. Later, they began to say they wanted to stay and make changes. On 4 November 1989, many people gathered in East Berlin to demand change.

On 9 November 1989, a government official named Günter Schabowski announced that people could cross the Berlin Wall right away. Many East Germans went to the Wall, and the guards opened the gates. People from both sides celebrated together, and the Wall came down that night.

Legacy

Little of the Berlin Wall is left at its original spot because most of it was torn down. Three longer parts of the Wall still stand today. One is an 80-meter-long piece at the Topography of Terror, between Checkpoint Charlie and Potsdamer Platz. Another is a longer piece along the Spree River near Oberbaumbrücke, called the East Side Gallery. The third is at Bernauer Straße and is now a memorial.

Smaller pieces and watchtowers can be seen in parks and memorials across the city. Some parts of the Wall were taken and sold around the world as souvenirs. Today, many of these pieces have graffiti on them, which was not there when the Wall was standing.

After the Wall fell, people worked to save some of the old paths and turn them into walking and cycling trails, called the Berliner Mauerweg.

Cultural differences

For many years after Germany reunited, people talked about differences between those from the East and West. Over time, these differences have lessened, though some people still notice them.

Wall segments around the world

Main article: List of Berlin Wall segments

Many pieces of the Wall were not destroyed and have been placed in museums, universities, and public spaces around the world.

50th anniversary commemoration

On August 13, 2011, Germany remembered the 50th anniversary of when the Berlin Wall was built. Leaders gave speeches about freedom, and there was a moment of silence for those who died trying to escape to the West. They talked about the importance of standing up for freedom and democracy.

Polling

Some small groups still think the Wall should have stayed or even be rebuilt, but most people are happy it fell. Over the years, support for bringing the Wall back has stayed low, with only a small number of people in favor.

Related media

Documentaries

See also: Category:Films about the Berlin Wall

Documentary films about the Berlin Wall include:

• The Tunnel from 1962.
• The Road to the Wall from 1962.
• Something to Do with the Wall from 1991.
• Rabbit à la Berlin from 2009.
• The American Sector from 2020.

Feature films

See also: Category:Films about the Berlin Wall

Fictional films about the Berlin Wall include:

• Escape from East Berlin from 1962.
• The Spy Who Came in from the Cold from 1965.
• Funeral in Berlin from 1966.
• Casino Royale from 1967.
• The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz from 1968.
• Berlin Tunnel 21 from 1981.
• Night Crossing from 1982.
• The Innocent from 1993.
• Sonnenallee from 1999.
• The Tunnel from 2001.
• Good Bye Lenin! from 2003.
• Open The Wall from 2014.
• Bridge of Spies from 2015.

Literature

Some novels about the Berlin Wall include:

• The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré.
• Berlin Game by Len Deighton.
• The Wall from 1999 by John Marks.
• West of the Wall from 2007 by Marcia Preston.
• The Wall Jumper from 1984 by Peter Schneider.

Music

Music related to the Berlin Wall includes:

• Stationary Traveller by Camel.
• West of the Wall by Toni Fisher.
• Holidays in the Sun by the Sex Pistols.
• "Heroes" by David Bowie.
• Over de muur by Klein Orkest.
• Chippin' Away by Tom Fedora, performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash.
• Berliners by Roy Harper.
• Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
• Free by Liza Fox.

Visual art

Artworks related to the Berlin Wall include:

• In 1982, artist Elsner created many artworks.
• The Day the Wall Came Down, sculptures by Veryl Goodnight.

Games

Video games related to the Berlin Wall include:

• The Berlin Wall from 1991.
• Ostalgie: The Berlin Wall from 2018.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops from 2010.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War from 2020.