Most of us are familiar with Germany’s involvement inWorld War II, however their story after the war also has historical importance. Following World War II, Germany was left in conflict. East Germany was communist and had similar beliefs to the Soviet Union, while West Germany was democratic and supported by the United States. Berlin, Germany's capital as well as one of its
16 states, sat within East German borders, however, it as split into two.
The Berlin Wall was built by the East Germans (or the German Democratic Republic) to keep its citizens from going West. Construction on the Berlin Wall began in 1961. To begin with, East Berlin and West Berlin were separated by barbed wire. Streets, railway lines and subways were torn up and barricades were erected.Within the year, construction work began on a solid wall separating the two cities. It was 155km long, 4 metres high and topped with barbed wire to keep anyone from climbing over.
On Nov. 9, 1989, East Berlin residents were given permission to visit West Berlin. That day, thousands poured across the checkpoints, and in front of guards, started to tear down portions of the Wall. People used whatever tools they could find to chip away at it. The entire world watched the momentous occasion on TV as East Berliners were greeted by West Berliners. People drank champagne and danced on the Wall at Brandenburg Gate, the gateway between the two cities.
Pieces of the wall were sold as souvenirs and the government later used industrial equipment to remove the rest of the wall.
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