Introduction to the Berlin Wall
The division line called the Berlin Wall was located between East Berlin and West Berlin for twenty-eight years – from 1961 till 1989. It was built by the East German officials of the German Democratic Republic to curb the movement of its people to West Berlin on the West’s side.
Who and why constructed the Berlin Wall?
The Berlin Wall was constructed in order to prevent refugees from escaping from East Germany to West Germany through West Berlin. This brain drain was very detrimental to the economy of GDR and was dangerous to the political safety of the country. The construction was intended to prevent the inmates from escaping and to strengthen the dictatorial rule of the GDR.
Construction and Design
The Berlin Wall was built with the help of concrete and barbed wire as the main materials used.. The actual length of the first-gen wall was about 155 km (96 miles) of which, through 302 observation towers and 20 bunkers. Other dimensions were fluctuating though an average height of 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) with an extra pipe of 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) at the top.
Inner and Outer Walls
The Berlin Wall consisted of two main sections: inner and the outer walls. The inner wall was directed towards East Berlin in which it served as a barrier and the outer wall was directed towards West Berlin and it provided an extra protection line. Between the walls was the “death strip”, which was surrounded by furious traps, bright light, trip wires and patrol roads.
Checkpoint Charlie
Among one of the famous checkpoints one can name Checkpoint Charlie that was situated in the center of Berlin. It was used by diplomats and military personnel, and by foreign visitors and their families. Today that checkpoint is commemorated with a replica that draws tourists interested in the history of the divided city.
Below is a table summarizing key facts about the construction of the Berlin Wall:
Duration Height Length Checkpoint
1961-1989 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) 155 kilometers (96 miles) Checkpoint Charlie
Life Along the Wall
The Berlin Wall meant that there was a high comparison between living in East and West Berlin. I perceive that West Berlin had all the privileges of a capitalist society, whereas the East Berlinites suffered from the oppression of the regime.
Deaths at the Wall
This has made crossing over or over the Berlin Wall a very dangerous affair. The border guards in GDR had been instructed to open fire on any person who was trying to escape. It is estimated that at least 140 people were killed while attempting to cross the wall, many others were injured or imprisoned.
Escape Tunnels
Nonetheless many attempts were made to escape Several attempts were made to escape. The most famous technique was to dig tunnels under the wall. Tunnel 57 was the longest of all and sixty-seven East Berlin citizens used it to bring themselves into the West. These tunnels were wonderful creations in engineering and they transformed into symbols of resistances.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
For almost thirty years the physical barrier of the Berlin Wall symbolized the ideological division of Europe and the world. Nonetheless, the changes that started at the end of 1989 blew away the wall.
Peaceful Protests
The series of politician-led protests, with an aim for freedom and advocating for civil rights began in October 1989. Such protests emerged and increased in strength, as well as found supportive echoes on the global scale.
The Opening of Borders
The régime of East Germany opened the border, allowing citizens to visit the West on November 9, 1989. Many people flocked at the border points, and in an unusual manner, the gate to the ‘New Berlin Wall’ was opened. It was so that people could celebrate by climbing on the wall and hammering it as a way of freeing themselves.
The Aftermath
The breaking of the Berlin Wall led to Germany’s reunification: the actual reunification would come on October 3, 1990. The wall became a mere monument; people would work and breathe freedom. Know always the consequences of division, people will always have the desire for freedom.
Today’s Berlin Wall۱�
Stumvoll, C; Scharl, L. (2012), Today’s Berlin Wall ; Sütö, C (2015), Visiting the Berlin Wall Today
Berlin, with each of its districts, is still full of remnants of the Wall which puts a stamp on the city’s history. Some of the monuments and museums which tell about the actual situation in the divided city include the following.
The East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery is some of the best known of the remaining portions of the Berlin Wall to this day. To give an indication of scale, it displays around 1.3 km (800 m) of new art on the wall by artists from different parts of the globe after the tearing down of the wall. Every work of art painted on the walls of the specified buildings reflects a given viewpoint on freedom, unity, and hope.
Mauerpark Flea Market
The Mauerpark Flea Market is situated in the area close to the former border strip and gives people quite an opportunity. There are also a number of stalls offering a range of old clothes and records and other curios. This is a perfect opportunity to get to know the atmosphere of Berlin as you walk through this saturated market.
DDR Museum
To learn more about what life was like in the DDR, the DDR Museum should not be missed. This is a real life simulated museum showing those that choose to visit what life is like, the struggles and the incongruities that come with living in a socialist state.
It is crucial to remember the existence of the Berlin Wall, how it was built and eventually dismantled so as to appreciate liberty and the impact of unified force. Coming to locations with parts of the Berlin Wall is an opportunity to grasp the historical scale of events and remember what happened to victims.