Free Walking Tour Berlin

When: Every day 10am & 12pm every day
Where: The meeting point is in front of the ehemaliges Kaiserliches Postfuhramt Berlin, Oranienburger Straße, 10117 Berlin, Germany, next to the entrance.
Price: Free

Constructing the Berlin Wall: A Remarkable Feat of Speed and Precision

by | Oct 22, 2024 | Original Berlin

When examining the construction of the Berlin Wall, it is fascinating to explore the speed at which this enormous undertaking was completed. The Berlin Wall stands as a symbol of the Cold War era, a physical barrier separating East and West Berlin. Erected practically overnight, this divisive structure serves as a haunting reminder of the political tension that gripped the world during that time.

The Need for a Barrier

After the Second World War Germany was the focal point of a splitting ideological conflict between the communistic East and the capitalistic West. The crisis in the coming years deepened and came to a dangerous level in early 1960s with many citizens emigrating from East to West Berlin. In counter to this mass movement, the GDR and its soviet partners finally came to the decision to construct a physical barrier in order to stop the people’s exodus.

The Planning Phase

To avoid this the preparation process before the construction phase was appropriate. The GDR government came up with an elaborate plan that would enable it to construct a wall that would isolate the city. The plan was to classify the city in to different sectors with certain task assigned to each sector. All these plans were alongside technical experts like engineers, construction workers implying them to actualise the plans and security personnel who helped in the execution of the plans.

Logistics and Materials

The fact that the KA Wall is a massive structure, meant that the logistics of erecting it where complicated. Concrete blocks, barbwire, guard towers, piping among other things were needed to finish the project. Some of these materials were obtained from East and West Berlin while others were moved quite a distance. Managing these resources needed a lot of planning and organizing in order to ensure that they were well coordinated.

Round-the-clock Construction

When the planning as well as arrangements were made, construction was started on the night of August 12, in the year 1961. The action, by the codename “Operation Rose,” included the use of armed forces, the police and construction employees across Berlin. Their job was to quickly construct something, which would effectively cut the city in half and make it very difficult for the people to get from one side to another.

Rapid Implementation

That which made the construction of the Berlin Wall astounding especially was the spate with which it was carried out. In a few hours East Germans were able to place barbwires round the perimeters thus encircling west Berlin. Originally this barrier was a flimsy one, only to provide the GDR with time to build a stronger, more permanent Wall.

The Evolution of the Wall

As days advanced, the barbed wire boundary remained provisional over time turn into a powerful construction to implement. Instead of that border, the GDR put up a concrete barrier that is around 153 kilometers in length. This was a frightening challenge, since it was not only the construction of a wall but additional watch-towers, the complicated system of trenches, and fortifications. 

Continued Expansion

Year by year the size and strength of the Berlin Wall influenced by its commanders and constructors grew. The construction was altered further and strengthened to increase the defense mechanism of the house. The wall then elevated to a symbol of sorrow with capability of pulling apart strangers, friends, families, and anyone who ever cared for one another. The result of this division was that people who used to go and come between the Eastern and the western zones of Berlin found themselves hostage on two extremes.

Conclusion

The building of the Berlin Wall was first of all swift and monstrous as reflected its construction in the historical period of its construction. Creating a barrier of such grand scale in less than a week meant that it took a lot of planning, many resources and people to build. The construction of the wall was also very fast and this exaggerated a sudden and real sense of the divide and therefore and for ever wrote this chapter in history. Today people can still see wandering pieces of the Wall – they are still there as a powerful shocking symbol characterizing the difficulties of the divided country and people who witnessed all those changes.

Thank you for reading. If you're inspired by the stories of Berlin and want to delve deeper, why not join us on our Free Berlin Walking Tour? It's a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the city's rich history and vibrant culture. We look forward to welcoming you soon.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • 3.5 hours walking tour
  • Berlin’s major highlights
  • Brandenburg Gate
  • Reichstag and Berlin Wall
  • Historical sites

Free Walking Tour Berlin

When: Every day 10am & 12pm every day
Where: The meeting point is in front of the ehemaliges Kaiserliches Postfuhramt Berlin, Oranienburger Straße, 10117 Berlin, Germany, next to the entrance.
Price: Free