HIS314601 Construction of the Berlin Wall at the corner of Lindenstrasse and Zimmerstrasse, 18 August 1961 (b/w photo)Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, Germany
Construction
Post WWII, a fight over the political fate of Germany was in full-swing precipitated by the dividing of the country into four parts to be controlled by France, America, Britain and the Soviets. The three Allied territories united and developed a capitalist economy which flourished, causing people from the Soviet occupied GDR to emigrate to West Germany. To stem the flow westwards, the Soviets started construction of a wall in August of 1961, but the intended separation took effect long before the wall was finished. People from both sides could no longer go to work or see loved ones. The Berlin Wall became the physical manifestation of the 'Iron Curtain' to many in the West.
SZP309281 Newlyweds at the Berlin Wall waving to their relatives in East Berlin on 1st January, 1962 (b/w photo)SZ Photo
Life Behind the Wall
Though there were several crossing points along the Wall (the most famous of which being Checkpoint Charlie), crossings were restricted to those with correct paperwork and permits. About 5,000 people managed to cross the Wall using such techniques as hot air balloons, driving sports cars at full speed, tunneling underground or through sewers and jumping from apartment windows lining the border. It has been claimed that up to 200 people were shot and killed trying to climb over the Wall.
HPS328159 Berliners from East and West celebrating the opening of the border on the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, 9th November 1989 (photo)/ H.P. Stiebing
The Wall Comes Down
In a speech at the Brandenburg Gate commemorating the 750th anniversary of Berlin on June 12, 1987, President Reagan issued a challege to the Soviet Union:
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Two years later, several incidents involving the mass escape of East German tourists escaping while in Hungary and Czechoslovakia racheted up protests on both sides of the wall. Starting in September, 1989, the 'Peaceful Revolution' had started and swelled to a staggering million people gathered in Alexanderplatz in East Berlin in November. On November 9th, it was declared (prematurely, due to a miscommunication) that the borders were now open. East Germans began gathering at the wall, demanding the border guards to open the gates but the guards hadn't heard the news or received orders. The crowd overwhelmed the guards and soon the borders were open and East and West Germans soon greeted each other for the first time in 28 years.
HPS328157 GDR border controllers preventing West German trespassing in the area in front of the Brandenburg Gate and Pariser Platz, Berlin, East Germany, 1989 (photo)H.P. Stiebing
HPS328173 Two Berliners embrace with joy following the opening of the Berlin Wall, 12th November, 1989 (b/w photo)H.P. Stiebing
HPS330297 Military pins from the GDR, sold as souvenirs following the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, July 1990 (photo)H.P. Stiebing
The Wall Lives On
East and West Germany were reunified officially on October 3rd 1990. Three sections of the wall still stand today along with a few watchtowers. Most of the original wall was badly damaged as fragments were taken and sold around the world. Checkpoint Charlie is now one of Berlin's primary tourist attractions and selling communist-chic souveniers has become good business. The wall remains a time not to be forgotten, and to commemorate 20 years since the fall, Berlin has installed giant foam dominoes which will topple as part of the anniversary celebrations.