The History of the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was a concrete divider, separating West Berlin from Eastern Germany. The wall began construction on August 13, 1961. It was erected by the Soviets in order to stop East Berliners and East Germans from immigrating to West Berlin. However, the astounding effect of the wall, was devastating for those who lived in Berlin. Families were separated, jobs lost, loved ones split apart and lives ruined. For a long time after the wall was built, no visits were permitted between the two borders. Escapes were attempted, some successful and others quite disastrous. Although West Berlin was the hope of all the East Germans for freedom and a better life, escapes eventually began to slacken, as the wall became stronger and the odds mounted against successful escape. East Berliners were trapped within the Soviet Communist government, and as the years rolled on, hope of any change became lost.

On May 8, 1945 WWII ended with the German Nazi’s in defeat. Shortly afterward, the main allied powers consisting of the British, French, Russians and Americans split Germany into sections. Countries from around the world began to lend support to the Germans, helping their war stricken country to heal and repair itself. The process took millions of care packages; assistance, equipment and money to help return the once beautiful German cities back to normal. The most beautiful city in Germany, Berlin, was located in the heart of the Soviet controlled sector. It had been Germany’s former capital city, and therefore the Allies decided to split it into 4 pieces. The Soviets were given the biggest portion, a little less than half of the city; the Americans were given a piece slightly bigger than the British, and the British a piece slightly larger than the French. These different sections of the city were most often referred to as either East, or West Berlin. The Soviet Union owned East Berlin and ruled the people with a brutal communist government, however, the other Allies ruled West Berlin with a much gentler hand allowing more rights and privileges.

Because of this, many East Germans began to immigrate to West Berlin, where they would catch a plane and fly out of East Germany. This made the Soviet Union mad, so they decided to close off West Berlin from East Germany, trying to force the Allies out of Berlin. They destroyed all the railroads and highways around the city and wouldn’t let the Allies get food to the West Berliners. So an enormous airlift began on June 21, 1948. Over 5,000 planes came form all over the world every week with food for the West Berliners. The airlift was extremely successful. On the planes’ return flight, refugees and immigrants were flown out of the country. On May 11, 1949 the Soviets gave up, they couldn’t take Berlin, so they stopped the blockade and the tremendous airlift ceased.