Berlin Wall, November 1989. Image: Yann / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Source.
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After the Second World War, Germany was divided into zones controlled by the victorious Allied powers. Berlin, although located inside the Soviet-controlled part of Germany, was also divided. By 1949, two German states had emerged: West Germany and communist East Germany. During the following years, millions of people left East Germany, many travelling through Berlin. The East German government saw this loss of workers and professionals as a serious problem. In August 1961, authorities suddenly closed the border through Berlin. Barbed wire was quickly replaced by a heavily guarded system of concrete walls, watchtowers and barriers. Families and neighbourhoods were separated. Some people attempted dangerous escapes by tunnels, hidden compartments, homemade balloons and other methods. Many were caught, and some were killed. For 28 years, the Berlin Wall became one of the strongest symbols of the Cold War division between communist Eastern Europe and the West. In 1989, political changes were spreading across Eastern Europe, and large demonstrations were taking place in East Germany. On 9 November, an East German official gave confusing information at a press conference about new travel rules. Crowds gathered at border crossings. Guards, lacking clear instructions and facing growing numbers of people, eventually opened the gates. Berliners climbed onto the Wall and celebrated together. The Wall's fall did not by itself reunify Germany, but it became the dramatic symbol of a political system rapidly changing. Germany was formally reunified in October 1990.
Comprehension questions
Why did East Germany want to stop movement through Berlin?
When was the Berlin border closed?
How long did the Wall stand as a major barrier?
What helped trigger the opening on 9 November 1989?
