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

Understanding the Historical Significance of the Berlin Wall

by | Oct 22, 2024 | Original Berlin

The Berlin Wall: A Symbol of Division

The Berlin Wall was constructed out of concrete and functioned to separate Berlin for most of from 1961 to 1989. Built by the East Germany, this wall separated East and West Berlin where the former belonged to the German Democratic Republic while the latter to the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Total Distance of the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall had an extent of about 155 kilometers (96 miles) in length. They cut it through the city and placed it around West Berlin to ensure that the East Germans cannot escape into the West.

Assembling and Building of the Berlin Wall

What was the Berlin Wall made up of? The largest and most visible component was the actual concrete wall itself that was over 3.6 meters tall (12 feet). It was surrounded by a border of barbed wire, watch towers and bunkers in case anyone attempted to cross the border. The wall also provided a ‘death strip’, an area packed with sand, gravel, alarms and trip wires.

Berliner Mauerbau begann am 13. August 1961. It was put in place by the East Germany’s government as a way of slowing the rate at which people from the East Germany moved to West Germany. The wall grew larger and stronger over the years and had many improvements, so it became a much larger barrier.

Divisions and Checkpoints

They were not one continuous wall, but wall and fences that separated precincts and whole districts, including the famous Berlin Wall. It was divided into different sectors each of them having their check posts and towers. They also included Charlie, Brandenburg, and Bornholmer Strasse checkpoint which became very crucial during the Cold War period.

Attempting to Flee and Tragic Attempts

During the existence of the Berlin Wall East Germans tried to escape from East Berlin to the West many times. Some attempted it by trying to burrow under it, and others by trying to scale it or build hot air balloons. Unfortunately, not all didn’t succeed, and a number of evade efforts saw the loss of lives.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall: Reunification

When the Cold War was over and with socio-political transformations in Eastern Europe, vast pressure on the GDR was increasing. On November 9, 1989 the inaccuracy during the press conference means that the East Germans can cross the border freely. This evt really brought out a lot of celebrations and eventually helped brought down the berlin wall.

The breaking down of the Berlin Wall was one of the most important moments of human history. It was for the unification of East and West Germany and the end of Cold war. Presently it is possible to observe the parts of the wall which are already transformed into a memorial, and the story telling about people’s lives in the time of its construction and existence.

In Conclusion

The division of the German capital, due to the Cold War ideologies, was represented by the physical divide commonly known as the Berlin Wall. Its total length approximated to 155 kilometers (96 m) and its presence was an obstacle to the floe or persons free interaction between East and West Berlin for almost thirty years. But when the wall came down in 1989 and Germany was reunified it was an important move towards breaking down the Iron Curtain that divided a continent.

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