The Division and Reunification of Germany

Following World War II, the eastern portion of Germany was ceded to the Soviet Union in recognition of its significant contributions to the Allied victory. This division resulted in the creation of two distinct German states: the communist German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and the democratic Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).

In 1952, East Germany closed its border with West Germany and cleared a three-mile-wide strip along the 860-mile border. This area was fortified with barbed wire fences and landmines. Overnight, barbed wire fences up to six feet high were installed, and Berliners woke up to find their city divided.

On August 13, 1961, at 1:11 am, the East German government abruptly closed the border between East and West Berlin, halting cars and trams in their tracks. This marked the beginning of the Berlin Wall’s construction, a defining moment in the Cold War. The day the Wall's construction began became known as Barbed Wire Sunday. Agence France-Presse reported that overnight on August 12, tens of thousands of guards, soldiers, and police hastily erected checkpoints and barbed wire, effectively imprisoning their own people and solidifying the Cold War division of Europe.

Over the next thirty years, the Berlin Wall became an almost impenetrable barrier. It was fortified with minefields, automatic machine guns, and other security measures to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West. The Wall stood as a stark symbol of the ideological divide between the Eastern Bloc and the Western world.

The Berlin Wall's fall on November 9, 1989, marked the beginning of a new era in German and world history. This event signaled the end of the Cold War and paved the way for the reunification of Germany. The Wall’s dismantling was a powerful symbol of the triumph of freedom over oppression and the beginning of a more unified and peaceful Europe. The reunification of Germany was formally completed on October 3, 1990, solidifying a new chapter of democracy and cooperation in the region.
The Division and Reunification of Germany

Construction of Berlin Wall

Following World War II, the eastern portion of Germany was ceded to Russian for its contributions of winning the war for the Allies.

The former Germany became two Germanies : East and West, Communist and democratic.

When East Germany shut its border with West Germany in 1952, it also cleared an area 3 miles wide along the 860 mile border.

In this area, the East Germans strung barbed wire fences and buried land mines. Barbed wire fenced p to six feet high were put during the night and Berliners woke up in the morning to find themselves living in a divided city.

On August 13, 1961 at 1.11 am the East German government closed the border between East and West Berlin, halting cars and trams in their tracks.

The construction of the Berlin Wall marked a new phase in the division of Germany and Berlin.

The day the Wall’s construction began became known as Barbed Wire Sunday. As reported by Agence France-Presse:

Overnight on August 12, tens of thousands of guards, soldiers and police hastily erected checkpoints and barbed wire, imprisoning their own people and cementing – literally - the Cold War division of Europe.

Over the next thirty years, minefield, automatic machine guns and other additional made the Berlin Wall impassible.

When this wall came down, on 10 November 1989 it fall marked a new era in Germany and world history.
Construction of Berlin Wall