The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall

From 1961 to 1989, the Berlin Wall stood as a symbol of the Iron Curtain division between East and West Germany. Stretching for 155 kilometers (96 miles) across the city, this imposing structure represented a physical and ideological barrier.

The wall was erected by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) to prevent its citizens from defecting to West Germany. It separated families and friends, making it a poignant symbol of the Cold War.

However, as the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War came to an end, the Berlin Wall was finally torn down in 1989. The historical event paved the way for the reunification of Germany and marked the beginning of a new era.

Preserving History: The Berlin Wall Today

Anyway, many people do not know that today parts of the Berlin Wall still stand although the most of it was demolished after the reunification. The remaining five sections have become strong symbols of the city’s history and are significant tourist attractions.

East Side Gallery

Another area of the remaining Berlin Wall perhaps one of the most popular is the East Side Gallery. S stretching for several city blocks along the Mühlenstraße in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, it is the longest open air gallery globally. People around the world turned the Wall into an amazing sight of art, paint just a year after the German reunification.

The ‘Wall of Hope’, a 1.3 km (8oo yds) section of the wall has over one hundred murals of hope unity and freedom. It was simply a fabulous place to visit for anyone who was more of a historical or artistic nature or anyone who enjoyed the fight for liberty.

Checkpoint Charlie

Another attraction connected with the Berlin Wall is Checkpoint Charlie. During Cold War and Berlin, this place turned into a border crossing point. The actual structure of the guardhouse is not any longer present but the modern construction of a similar structure has been erected on the piece of land.

Today visitors can come to this place to study history and fates of those people who tried to escape or be killed anyway. The Walk Museum at Checkpoint Charlie is not far and has abundant information about the wall along with people’s experience.

Mauerpark

The Mauerpark or the “Wall Park” is another place which has historical connection with the Berlin Wall. Situated in Prenzlauer Berg this park is on the site of the former border strip of the actual wall.

Walkways around the park allow visitors can see remaining parts of the wall such as watchtowers and walls with artistic graffiti all over them. Also, freizeit children and youth voluntarily helped to maintain and structure the area, including Sunday flea market which is very popular, and Bearpit Karaoke stage.

Remembering the Past: Memorial Sites

Besides the remaining pieces of the Berlin Wall itself, there are several important sites that commemorate this division, and suffering of all inhabitants of this city.

How the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe was Built

Located just a stone throw away from the Brandenburg gate it is a well designed memorial to Holocaust or rather the murdered Jewish population of Europe. It is made up of the 2,711 square blocks of concrete of different heights to form a collection of large smooth columns in a regular field.

The movement through this immense construction of grey colors and detaching from extrasensory perception evokes thoughts about the exhibited memories, which nuevo theme-spaces offer a serious and solemn note so that people do not forget millions of victims of the Holocaust.

Topography of Terror

The Topography of Terror museum museum is erected at the site of the previous office of Gestapo and SS organization. It is useful when it comes to providing knowledge about the most evil acts of the government of Nazi Germany during the Second World War as well as during the Cold War years of political oppression.

The museum uses photographs documents and extended exhibits to inform visitors on the systematic terror that was the Nazi Regime as well as the construction of the Berlin Wall. It draws the attention to the need to be alert and protect human rights.

Conclusion

The Berlin Wall, symbolic as check and balance that rift the society into two, has become a symbol of strength and unity of people. Most of the wall has been demolished, but different parts and major sites where some large memorial has to be paid to them are still existing in today’s Shanghai.

It relieves the sufferings of the separated families by touching the ruins and glimpse these remains, and also makes people realize the precious resources we have now.