When it comes to the history of the Berlin Wall, one of the most common questions asked is, “how long was the Berlin Wall up?” The Berlin Wall stood tall as a physical and ideological barrier between East and West Germany, dividing not only a city but also a nation. In this article, we will delve into the story behind the infamous wall, exploring its construction, purpose, duration, and eventual fall.

The Construction of the Wall: August 13, 1961

Three weeks before the start of the school year in August 1961 everyone could watch the building of the Berlin Wall. It was during the regime of the East German government backed by the Soviets to keep their people from traveling to the West. The construction of the wall was also fast and ruthless, people were separated from their loved ones, from their neighbors.

The Wall ran for about 96m west of the line from the Elbe to the Havel in and around Berlin, coterminously with the Cold War city confining West Berlin approximately 160km east of the line with Saxon and East Thuringian central German redoubtland. Constructed out of concrete, barbed wire, and police check points, it became the symbol to hinder free mobility.

The Purpose of the Berlin Wall: Fortifying East Germany

The Berlin Wall was built by the East German government, as it was formally called, Socialist Unity Party Germany Democratic Republic. Their reason for constructing this wall was because socialism and all its values could be threatened by the so called western decadence and spies. This assertion excluded the drive to deny the eastern people, their opportunities to live a ‘better’ life in a democracy that prevailed in the west.

Attempts at escaping were rife before the construction of the barricade because the citizens fled their homes, jobs, families, and friends to pursue what they termed as a better living. The wall was to be the answer to this brain drain thereby enclosing East Germans within their own territory.

The Years of Isolation: 1961-1989

The infamous Berlin Wall was built for twenty eight years that split the families, bright vadovs and ideas between East and West. Meanwhile East Germany had turned into one of the most closely watched borders in the world – watchtowers, barbed wire and guards.

Living in East was torrid for any citizen if they happened to be trapped behind the Berlin Wall. Fascist government and strict security policies and procedures arranged by the Stasi (the secret police of East Germany) helped in that. The East German regime became increasingly authoritative controlling their citizens and placing them under the socialist regime.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall: November 9, 1989

Under pressure and political situation, significant change, the Berlin Wall was knocked down on 9th November, 1989. Internal and external factors paved way to this historic event which contributed to the disintegration of the Soviet Union and thus the Cold War.

Lebanese civil war protests continued to develop and gain momentum in order to achieve freedom with reunification spreading across East Germany. The East Germany government could not contain the rat race and was compelled to open the crossing point thereby allowing people to move back and forth.

A Symbolic Moment of Reunification

The history of Germany changed for a long time after the collapse of this wall it symbolically divided East and West Germany and in this way the cold war ended. People expressed happiness for days on end as those affected by this wall being built could kiss their loved ones from the other side.

The Berlin Wall also cracked down at a time when Europe was trying to establish its political future post the Cold War. Thus the path to German reunification on October 3,1990 was paved through the fall of Berlin Wall and the goal towards a united liberated, and economically affluent Europe was realized.

The Legacy of the Berlin Wall

As we speak today the Berlin Wall lies in the ground but the message it was trying to tell the world is the lesson which has been learnt today. Although a large area of the wall was knocked down when the wall was torn down, some corners actually still exist today as memories.

Further, it has become a both an object of contemplation and discussion for human rights, freedom and division. It is still a place of historical importance with people from worldwide visiting it with the hopes of paying their respect owing to the history behind that place.

Info given in the movie by telling the real story of Berlin Wall which is the best example of deviding, one learn about strength, about superiority of walls, and about power of unision and freedom. This little story had the power to remind people that even though we can erect barriers as high as walls around ourselves and around the other, these walls will fall and fail as soon as the one will not able to suppress Faith and Hope and dreams of a better tomorrow.