Introduction
When it comes to the rather fiery history of Berlin, there is one architectural wonder that springs to mind – the Berlin Wall. This imposing structure was constructed in 1961 and for approximately 27 years this barrier separated the city. But, to come back to the more earthbound issues: Just how long was this infamous Berlin Wall? As we will see in this article the length of the Berlin Wall, the historical importance that it had and where it is standing today.
The Length of the Berlin Wall
In fact, the entire length of the Berlin Wall was about 155 kilometers or about 96 miles long. They were 100 kilometers of the concrete barrier that surrounded 66 of those kilometers and more barriers like barbed wire and ditch systems.
The Physical Structure
The physical wall was made of large concrete panels each with a width of 3.6 meters (12 feet) in height and 1.2 meters (4 feet) in width. These were well constructed panels and no one could neither climb on or break through them no matter how much they tried.
Checkpoint Charlie
None of these were very long; the most famous, Checkpoint Charlie, was only a few meters across. This is the spot where American and Soviet tanks stood on end during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 as a symbol of confrontation. This checkpoint still forms part of the historical battlefield of the cold war period.
Historical Significance
The beaning of the Cold War saw the separation of Germany into two with the Berlin Wall acting as a soccial and political barrier. It was built by the German Democratic Republic, GDR, to ensure that those from East Germany did not travel to West Germany and West Berlin where they were free politically in addition to experiencing economic development.
Political and Economic Divide
The building of the Berlin Wall severed relations, people were separated at the community, family and friend level. It represented a transition between two warring sides, communism, and capitalism. To achieve such an aim, the East German government wanted to curb dissent, freedom of information and stay as an authoritarian dictatorship over the population.
Escape Attempts
However, the wall had extraordinary physical characteristics which made it hard for East Germans to cross to the western side despite the fact that many try to do so. Some attempted to jump over the wall while others having dug tunnels tried to burrow under it while a few others tried to fly across the wall by the use of hot air balloons or home-made hang gliders. These as endeavors to escape were all symbolizations of the spirit of freedom from the individuals.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall came crumbling down on the 9th of November in 1989 the result of intense political pressure, widespread non-violent demonstrators. The circumstances of its collapse were the final in years of revolution demands and the progressive dissolution of the Soviet influence theme hat dominated the Eastern European nations.
Peaceful Revolution
The event that led to situation where Berlin Wall was pulled down was not out of any force or even have to use force. But for political liberalization, public demand, and policy change that was averted in Soviet Union under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachov. The situation in East Germany was peculiar in that the culmination to years of political change occurred through a relatively non-violent revolution; the reunification of Germany took place on October 3, 1990.
Symbol of Reunification
The event that the movie is based is far more than reunification of a divided city but a triumph of democracy over communism and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Parts of it remain today as a reminder of the strife of this city and act as a representation of hope, togetherness and strength.
Conclusion
The actual, political and symbolic barrier that was the Berlin Wall was stretched about 155 kilometers or 96 miles across Berlin. Civilization Cinecittà is the work of Politics, war between East and West, suppression of freedom and humanity’s longing for freedom. Its fall was a historical event that will always remain in history as people demanding change, demanding that oppressive regim Berlin wall today stands as memorial of victory against dictatorships and件 a symbol of liberty and freedom and success of a human spirit.
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