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, fences, and other defenses 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 powerful symbol of the division between the Western countries and the 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 of people 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 divided into four zones, each controlled by one of the Allied powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin, located within the Soviet zone, was also split into four sectors.

Political differences grew between the Soviets and the other powers. The Soviets disagreed with plans to rebuild Germany, while the Western powers combined their zones for reconstruction 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 communist governments in many countries it occupied, including East Germany. This led to the start of the Cold War, with tensions between the Soviet-led Eastern Bloc and the Western powers, led by the United States.

Many people in East Germany wanted to leave for the West due to poor living conditions. In 1948, the Soviets blocked land routes to West Berlin, but the Western Allies responded with an airlift to supply the city by plane.

Emigration westward in the early 1950s

Main articles: Eastern Bloc emigration and defection and Eastern Bloc

In the early 1950s, large numbers of people left East Germany for the West, seeking better lives and fearing repression. This movement of people strained the East German economy and led to further tensions between East and West.

Erection of the inner German border

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

By the early 1950s, many countries in Eastern Europe, including East Germany, started controlling their borders more tightly. 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 escape to the West. Even with rules against it, many still found ways to leave through Berlin. By 1958, most people leaving East Germany were doing so through Berlin. This escape route became very 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 “brain drain” 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

On June 15, 1961, a leader of East Germany named Walter Ulbricht said that no one planned to build a wall. But later that year, the leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, encouraged East Germany to build the wall. Ulbricht had been pushing for it, saying East Germany needed to protect itself.

On August 12, 1961, Ulbricht gave the order to start building the wall. At midnight, East German soldiers and workers began closing the border between East and West Berlin. By the next morning, August 13, the border was sealed. They tore up streets and put up barbed wire and fences around the city.

The wall was built on East German land so it would not enter West Berlin. Over the next few days, they started building concrete walls and other barriers. The area near the wall was cleared out to make it easier to see anyone trying to escape.

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 leader of West Berlin criticized the United States for not doing more to stop it.

The United States learned about the wall too late, but they sent officials to show their support for West Berlin. They also sent soldiers through East Germany to West Berlin to show that they would not give up their rights there. The wall made East Germany more stable but also became a symbol of unfair control.

Structure and adjacent areas

The Berlin Wall was a very long barrier—over 140 kilometers or 87 miles. It started as a simple fence but changed many times over the years. By 1980, it looked very different: it was made of strong concrete, stood about 12 feet tall, and had many parts to make it hard to cross.

Guards watched from tall towers, and there were special areas with loose sand 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 final version can be seen in Berlin and other places around the world.

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, West Germany, Western countries, and the Allies visit East Berlin. They also let people from East Germany and other socialist countries visit West Berlin, if they had the right 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 waste transport and access to parts of West Berlin.

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 from an East German embassy 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, around 5,000 people successfully escaped to West Berlin. The number of people who died trying to cross the Wall is debated. Some say over 200, while others say at least 140.

The East German government told border guards to shoot 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 badly. Peter Fechter was shot and left to bleed in 1962, which drew worldwide attention. 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 close to the Wall. Many people from East Berlin attended, and this led to protests in the city. These protests were an early sign of growing unrest that 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 in person, and the show was shown on TV. Springsteen told the crowd he hoped one day all barriers would come down. This concert made many East Germans want even 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 26 June 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy gave an important speech in West Berlin. He told the people there that the United States supported them. He said, "Ich bin ein Berliner!" meaning "I am a Berliner!" This showed that people everywhere 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 in the area.

Fall

Main article: Fall of the Berlin Wall

In the late 1980s, problems grew in the Eastern Bloc countries, which were 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, though it was still very hard to escape.

On 19 August 1989, a special event called the Pan-European Picnic happened. This event, suggested by Otto von Habsburg, tested how the leaders of the Soviet Union and East Germany would react. Because they did not stop people from leaving, many East Germans tried to escape through Hungary. By September, over 13,000 East Germans had fled to Austria 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, about half a million people gathered in East Berlin to demand change.

On 9 November 1989, a government official named Günter Schabowski announced during a news meeting 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 remains of the Berlin Wall at its original location, as most of it was destroyed. Three longer pieces still stand today. One is an 80-meter-long section 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, turned into a memorial.

Other smaller pieces and watchtowers can be found 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, there were efforts to preserve some of the old border 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 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 the Berlin Wall’s construction. Leaders gave speeches about freedom, and a moment of silence honored those who died trying to escape to the West. They reminded everyone of 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 percentage of people in favor.

Related media

Documentaries

See also: Category:Films about the Berlin Wall

Documentary films about the Berlin Wall include:

• The Tunnel (December 1962), an NBC News Special documentary film.
• The Road to the Wall (1962), a documentary film.
• Something to Do with the Wall (1991), a documentary about the fall of the Berlin Wall.
• Rabbit à la Berlin (2009), a documentary film about wild rabbits that lived between the walls.
• The American Sector (2020), a documentary that finds pieces of the wall in the U.S.

Feature films

See also: Category:Films about the Berlin Wall

Fictional films about the Berlin Wall include:

• Escape from East Berlin (1962), a film inspired by people tunneling under the wall.
• The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), a classic film set on both sides of the Wall.
• The Boy and the Ball and the Hole in the Wall (1965), a Spanish-Mexican film.
• Funeral in Berlin (1966), a spy movie.
• Casino Royale (1967), a film with a part set near the Wall.
• The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz (1968), a film about an Olympic athlete who escapes.
• Berlin Tunnel 21 (1981), a TV movie about building a tunnel under the Wall.
• Night Crossing (1982), a film about a family trying to escape in a hot air balloon.
• The Innocent (1993), a film about a secret operation to build a tunnel under East Berlin.
• Sonnenallee (1999), a German comedy film about life in East Berlin.
• The Tunnel (2001), a film about a tunnel under the Wall.
• Good Bye Lenin! (2003), a film set during German unification.
• Open The Wall (2014), a story about a guard who let people cross the border.
• Bridge of Spies (2015), a film featuring a student trying to bring his girlfriend to West Berlin.

Literature

Some novels about the Berlin Wall include:

• The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963) by John le Carré.
• Berlin Game (1983) by Len Deighton.
• The Day Before the Berlin Wall: Could We Have Stopped It? by T.H.E. Hill (2010).
• The Wall (1999) by John Marks.
• West of the Wall (2007) by Marcia Preston.
• The Wall Jumper (1984) by Peter Schneider.

Music

Music related to the Berlin Wall includes:

• Stationary Traveller (1984) by Camel.
• West of the Wall (1962) by Toni Fisher.
• Holidays in the Sun by the Sex Pistols.
• "Heroes" (1977) by David Bowie.
• Over de muur (1984) by Klein Orkest.
• Chippin' Away (1990) by Tom Fedora, performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash.
• Berliners (1990) by Roy Harper.
• Hedwig and the Angry Inch (1998), a rock opera.
• Free (2013) by Liza Fox.

Visual art

Artworks related to the Berlin Wall include:

• In 1982, artist Elsner created many artworks along the former border in West Berlin.
• The Day the Wall Came Down, sculptures by Veryl Goodnight, showing horses leaping over pieces of the Wall.

Games

Video games related to the Berlin Wall include:

• The Berlin Wall (1991), a video game.
• Ostalgie: The Berlin Wall (2018), a game where the player leads East Germany.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010), features the Wall in a multiplayer level.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020), the Wall appears when entering East Berlin.