The Rise of the Berlin Wall

That was the night, August 13, 1961, that the world watched as the Berlin Wall was built, literally a wall separating East from West. The wall was the symbol of division of capitalist and communist ideologies as well as of the Cold War which was erected by the German Democratic Republic, or GDR.

At 155 kilometers long, the Berlin Wall included concrete walls, barbed wire, watchtowers, ‘death strip’ (in it were mines, searchlights, guard dogs, and armed GDR border guards). The purpose was to keep East Germans from heading ‘West’, to the more prosperous land.

Tensions and Struggles

The Berlin Wall, which signified contrasts in liberty versus oppression, democracy versus communism, is nearly three decades old. This physical manifestation of a political divide tore families apart and shattered dreams and changed lives forever.

This wall drew hugely on resentment and a number of attempts to get into West Berlin by crossing into that country to have a much improved life. They all risked life in escape attempts via tunnels, homemade hot air balloons and even disguises in order to outsmart border guards.

The Pressure Mounts

From mid 1980s, the global milieu starts to configure. Through Gorbachev’s reign as leader of the Soviet Union, a time of reform known as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) led to higher criticism of the East German government.

The East German population continually grew more and more agitated, with none of their political freedom, economic opportunities, and access to information, all combined. This all led to rebellion. Changing the oppressive regime that had them pincered was their demand and an end to it.

Bridging the Divide

Peaceful Protests

On November 9, 1989, the tide turned when thousands of East Germans began massing around the Berlin Wall, demanding freedom of movement. The reason for this gathering was an unscheduled announcement made by an East German senior official, Günter Schabowski.

In a press conference, Schabowski announced East German travel regulations which would allow people to travel to West Germany. Once revealed, people took off to the border checkpoints to pass over to the other side.

Unplanned Eruption

The border guards were outmatched by the crowds in part because they were given conflicting instructions for how to handle them. Pressure mounted until the the guards finally gave in under the volume of people.

And border guard Harald Jäger stood faced with an impossible decision, at the Bornholmer Strasse checkpoint. The crowd’s growing demands were questioning Jäger’s orders. He was sought to have no direction from his superiors.

It is no surplus that Jäger confronted an untenable situation and an impossible directive, and finally did the necessary bold and unprecedented. He ordered the gates opened so that the people may freely pass on to the other side of the border.

A Symbolic Moment

The gates opened and East Berliners poured into the streets of West Berlin. This was the end of the Cold War era and East and West Germany reunification.

The Wall Crumbles

The mass exodus, growing wave of public sentiment and swift demolition of the Berlin Wall after the mass exodus took place. But people armed with hammers, chisels — and in some cases, sledge hammers — began physically chipping away at the massive, towering symbol of division and oppression.

Larger and larger sections of the wall were systematically dismantled over time, and thousands of people and organisations had collected fragments as loving mementos. It was an unforgettable moment in history, an attempt at erasing the physical barrier once and for all, to reclaim something now so basic to our freedom.

The Aftermath

The Berlin Wall fell and it had huge repercussions. Germany later reunited after East and West merged together so the nation became a democratic country. It also was a tipping point for the overall collapse of the Soviet Union.

People carrying and selling their goods, strolling around, swimming and being merry and careless in face of mosquitos and large quantities of rape, people of Berlin inspire generations with the spirit of unity and resilience. Today, as a powerful symbol of hope, this Berlin Wall survives to represent that inherent human desire to be free, and that it’s possible to do so against seemingly insurmountable odds.

When we think back on this remarkable piece of history, we ought to think about the bravery of those who opposed oppression; we should also celebrate the victories of peaceful resistance.