One of the structures of the 20th century, and one of the most iconic structures in the world — literally a wall — was the Berlin Wall, which represented a division between East and West Germany, the Cold War. Physicalizing the new state of Berlin into two parts, built in 1961 it was.
In order to see where the Berlin Wall was, you need to know its historic context, where the wall actually was during its time in the city. But the reality today is most of the wall is demolished, and even so there are some remaining and landmarks to visit to learn about it’s historical importance.
Understanding the Berlin Wall’s Route
Around West Berlin, a West German enclave surrounded by East Germany,the Berlin Wall extended for about 155 kilometers (96 miles). The security measures consisted of a concrete barrier, guard towers, anti vehicle trenches and other.
If you are walking up a map you will spot that Berlin Wall was a zigzag line crossing the city. It included West Berlin and encircled East Berlin and its surrounding areas, areas under Soviet control and the control of East Germany.
One of the best known bits of wall was that that ran along Bernauer Strasse, where escape attempts and tragic incidents attendedaled. Now this section has become a favorite place for those that are interested in finding out what the wall is all about.
Visiting Berlin Wall Remnants and Landmarks
Most of the Berlin Wall itself was torn down after German reunification in 1989 but you can still see fragments of the wall and visit historical monuments surrounding its history. Here are a few key locations:
1. Berlin Wall Memorial
The Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse is an open air exhibition featuring a preserved section of original wall with its watchtowers and a border strip. His memorial gives clues on how Berlin withstood the divided times.
2. East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery is a 1.3 km (0.8 miles) stretch of Berlin Wall running just on the banks of the River Spree. After the wall fell, it became the world’s longest outdoor gallery, painted over by at least 100 artists with messages of peace and unity.
3. Checkpoint Charlie
During the Cold War, the crossing point between East and West Berlin was called Checkpoint Charlie. But the original checkpoint booth has gone and a replica of it stands instead to remind visitors of the wall’s history, drawing in the crowds as a popular tourist attraction.
4. Topography of Terror
An outdoor and indoor museum, the Topography of Terror presents the story of the Nazi regime and the subsequent split of Berlin. It contains a grasp of the history enveloped in the building of the Berlin Wall.
Conclusion
By now the Berlin Wall does not exist in its entirety, but notions of history and of various memorial sites still feel its presence in the city. Visiting these locations and knowing its route, is a valuable lesson in what the Berliners faced during the Cold War era.
Visitors can pay respect to those affected by Berlin Wall and learn what we need to do to build a better future while exploring the remnants and landmarks associated with the Berlin Wall.
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