EFFECTS OF THE BERLIN WALL

WHEN IT WAS BUILT

• August 13, 1961
• Constructed by East Germany's communist government
• Mikhail Gorbahev - Soviet leader of Germany
• He believed the wall would keep East Berlin communist

THE CONSTRUCTION

• August 13, 1961: a barbed wire is put up
• August 19, 1961: a stronger wall of concrete and electric fence is built
• Guards monitored the wall day and night
• 116 watchtowers

THE WALL

• 96 miles in length
• Average height was 11.8 ft.
• Stands strong for 28 years

WHY IT WAS BUILT

• To physically and politically separate East & West Berlin
• Believed too many East Germans were fleeing west
• Around 150 East Berliners were fleeing a day
• Searching for economic prosperity & political freedom

"DEATH STRIP"

• A little strip of land between East & West Berlin
• Brave Germans tried to escape to the other side
• Guards were ordered to shot anyone who tried to cross
• 160 Germans killed

ESCAPES

• The wall prevented immigration, but some found a way out
• Around 5,000 East Germans escaped to West Berlin
• Somewhere between 130 and 200 people died trying to escape

EFFECTS ON EAST BERLIN

• No way to escape communism
• Living conditions and the economy deteriorated
• Lose money and business from outside costumers
• Family hardships are created with lack of supplies & money
• Attempt to live a normal lifestyle

EFFECTS ON EAST BERLIN (CONT.)

• Could not visit family/friends outside the wall
• Lost commuting jobs in the west
• People who lost their jobs could not provide for their families
• Separated the people from their freedom; did not like living under communist
• Supplies is flown in from the west; they cannot provide everything themselves

EFFECTS ON WEST BERLIN

• Their economy and living conditions improved
• West Berliners lost commuting jobs in East Berlin
• Lost connection with families/friends
• Subway stations that entered/exited East Berlin were closed
• Try to rescue the East Berliners for many years

THE FALL OF THE WALL

• Reunited Germany
• Symbolized the end of the Cold War
• Soviet Union begins to collapse
• 11 former Soviet republics claim statehood
• United Nations grows in the number of countries involved

FALL OF THE WALL (CONT.)

• Over time, West Berliners are allowed through the wall to visit family
• Checkpoints were set up across the wall
• Inside they could not be protected by western countries
• November 9, 1989: the wall opened to everyone
• June 13, 1990: demolition began

SOURCES

• http://www.history/this-day-in-history/berlin-wall-built
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/places/berlin_wall
• http://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org