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

Unveiling the Secrets of the Berlin Wall

by | Oct 22, 2024 | Original Berlin

Take a look at the previously published Berlin walls. This article will take a look at some of the unbelievable stories and interesting locations that surround one of the 20th century’s most famous structures. Prepare yourself to dive into history and find out where the Berlin Wall was!

1. The Divided City

The Berlin Wall was in the middle of Berlin, the capital of Germany. Following World War II, the city became a geopolitical hotspot, divided into four occupied zones administered by the Allied powers: the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France.

The ideological split between East and West aggravated with the rising tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Allies promised to conquer the perpetually bombarded East Berlin, and their promise was kept, as the rest of Germany fallen in Hitler’s wake except East Berlin, which was controlled by the Soviet Union.

2. Construction and Purpose

The Berlin Wall was constructed in August 1961 by German Democratic Republic (East Germany). It was a wall to try to stop the mass migration from East to West Berlin and there were thousands of East Germans that wanted a better life in the West.

For almost 28 years, the Berlin Wall was a 155 kilometer (96 mile) stretch through the city that was a physical, as well as a psychological barrier. The 14,000 heacres comprised concrete walls, barbed wire fences, guard towers and network of obstacles intended to prevent any movement across the fence.

3. Death Strip and Checkpoints

Over the years, the space between the two walls of the Berlin Wall was called the “Death Strip” for what befell anyone trying to use it. This no man’s land had anti vehicle trenches, watchtowers, anti personnel devices lined around it.

However there were a few authorised crossing points along the Berlin Wall but the risks were great. Friedrichstrasse in East Berlin was connected with Zimmerstrasse in West Berlin by the most famous checkpoint, called Checkpoint Charlie. It was used as a way for foreigners – foreign diplomats, military personnel and tourists – to enter.

3.1. Checkpoint Charlie Museum

The Checkpoint Charlie Museum is really worth a visit if you’d like to know more about the history of the Berlin Wall and those who tried to escape. It is located near the original checkpoint, with exhibitions and artifacts giving you an idea of the daring escape attempts the wall was used to prevent, and the people impacted by the wall.

4. Fall of the Wall

On the 9th of November, 1989 the world saw what would become a historic event when the Berlin wall came down. Political changes, peaceful demonstrations and a miscommunication by the East German authorities combined to create such a huge mass of people at the border crossings demanding freedom of movement.

The border guards were confronted with a dilemma; as the crowds grew. Under pressure, they opened the checkpoints so East Berliners could come and go as they pleased to West Berlin. It was the symbolical end of the division and the basis for German reunification.

5. Berlin Wall Memorial

The Berlin Wall Memorial exists to pay homage to the victims and to help preserve the memory of the Berlin Wall. These memorial sites are along Bernauer Straße, situated in exhibitions with an open air museum, as well as remnants of the wall.

Visiting the preserved part of the wall and other historical artifacts which inhabit the divides of the city, makes you walk in reality of the divided areas. It is a reminder of how hard it must be to sit on either side of the wall.

6. Conclusion

The Berlin Wall has become inseparable from German and world history. The division of Berlin, and consequently the erection of the berlin wall, reflected in part how the West and East squared off ideologically during the Cold War. To this day, going to those wall remains and to the memorial sites is a powerful reminder that we have this freedom and we are resilient people.

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