Back to the video list: German History

 

The Berlin Wall was the most obvious sign of the Cold War. From its erection in 1961 to its fall in 1989 the Berlin Wall was a scar that divided not only Germany but also the whole World into East and West.

 

Video

 

 

Overview

  • Date: 13 Aug 1961 – 09 Nov 1989
  • Location: Germany
  • Start: Building of the Berlin Wall
  • End: Opening of the Berlin Wall

 

Parties & Persons Involved

  • German Democratic Republic (GDR)
  • Soviet Union
  • Federal Republic of Germany
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • France
  • & other European countries

 

Background

  • De facto 2 German states:
    • (1) Western occupation zones & Soviet-occupied zone (1945)
    • (2) Foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) & the GDR (1949)
  • Eat-West conflict & Cold War
  • The GDR is economically underdeveloped & oppresses its people
  • Mass flight from the GDR to the FRG (approx. 3.5m from 1949 to 1961)

 

History

  • 1945 – 1952: Mass flight into West Germany
  • 1952: GDR closes its border except Berlin
  • 1952 - 1961: Mass flight through Berlin
  • 17 Jun 1953: Mass demonstrations in the GDR are violently suppressed
  • 13 Jun 1961: “No one has the intention to erect a wall.“ (Ulbricht)
  • Jul 1961: approx. 30,000 flee into West Berlin
  • 03 – 05 Aug 1961: Ulbricht & Khrushchev decide to build the wall during a Warsaw Pact meeting
  • 13 Aug 1961: GDR security forces close the Berlin border & start building the Berlin Wall
  • Reactions to the closing of the border:
    • Berlin: The mayor of West Berlin Willy Brandt leads a mass protest of 300’000 (16 Aug)
    • Germany: Chancellor Adenauer appeases the population & refers to a shared reaction with the western partners in future
    • Western allies: “It is not a very nice solution but a hell of a lot better than a war“ (John F. Kennedy), but he also sends reinforcement troops to Berlin
  • Aug – Sep 1961: 85 deserters & approx. 400 civilians reach West Berlin
  • 26 Jun 1963: Kennedy in Berlin – “Ich bin ein Berliner.“
  • 1989: Mass flight through third countries & peaceful mass protests in the GDR
  • 09 Nov 1989 18:57 hrs: Günter Schabowski announces a new travel law which allows travelling abroad without any preconditions
  • Several 10,000s go to the border checkpoints
  • 09 Nov 1989: Opening of the Berlin Wall
  • Until 24:00 hrs: All of the border crossings are open
  • 13 Jun 1990: start of the demolition of the wall
  • 01 Jul 1990: With the currency union all border controls cease
  • 03 Oct 1990: German Reunification

 

Consequences & Impact

  • Berlin Wall & other border fortifications cause the death of several 100 Germans
  • Opening of the Berlin Wall is start of the German reunification process
  • The Fall of the Berlin Wall is the symbolic end of the Cold War