History of berlin wall
Berlin Wall: Version 1 (Top Left) was made almost completely out of barbed wire. Version 2 (Top Middle) was made of 2 parallel fences of barbed wire with space in between that was land mined. Version 3 (Top Right) was a wall with a smooth pipe across the top to make it difficult to climb. Version 4 (Bottom Right) was made of concrete, and was very sturdy. It was re-enforced and had watchtowers. (Bottom Left)
At the end of WWII the Soviet Union and the United States argued about who should influence Germany. The Soviet Union wanted to influence it into becoming Communist, but the United States wanted it to become Democratic. The two countries agreed to split Germany down the middle. Then there was the problem of Berlin. Berlin was a major industrial city for Germany. If the Soviet Union received the Eastern half of Germany they would get all of Berlin. The Soviet Union and the United States decided to split Berlin as well.
The United States, United Kingdom, and France all gave some of the land they occupied to West Germany. They set up an economy based on Capitalism, and a Democratic government. The living conditions in West Germany were very luxurious. West Germany, as well as West Berlin were thriving. The Soviet Union and Poland both contributed land to East Germany. East Germany was set up with a Communist government, but did not thrive. The living conditions in East Germany, including East Berlin were dismal. By the late 1950s, citizens of East Germany were defecting to West Berlin, and ultimately West Germany. East Germany was losing about 20 percent of its population a year to West Germany.
By 1961 the Soviets had come up with a solution, and took action on the night of August 12-13, 1961. By the morning of August 13, the construction of the Berlin Wall was well underway. East German and Soviet soldiers had constructed a 103 mile long wall surrounding West Berlin, using barbed wire and brick. Although the original wall was more like a fence, made almost entirely of barbed wire, it evolved into a wall made of reinforced concrete, with a smooth pipe on top. It had mesh fencing, signal fencing, anti-vehicle trenches, barbed wire, over 300 watchtowers, and thirty bunkers.
By 1961 the Soviets had come up with a solution, and took action on the night of August 12-13, 1961. By the morning of August 13, the construction of the Berlin Wall was well underway. East German and Soviet soldiers had constructed a 103 mile long wall surrounding West Berlin, using barbed wire and brick. Although the original wall was more like a fence, made almost entirely of barbed wire, it evolved into a wall made of reinforced concrete, with a smooth pipe on top. It had mesh fencing, signal fencing, anti-vehicle trenches, barbed wire, over 300 watchtowers, and thirty bunkers.
No one was going to escape from the Communists. However, people still tried. Some people dug tunnels in hopes to find freedom. There came to be a large system of tunnels under Berlin. One of the tunnels was in a grave yard. People would pretend to go to the graves of their loved ones, but would then sneak into the tunnel when no one was watching. Another tunnel was dug in a basement so one could simply enter the house and sneak through the tunnel. Others attempted to escape by flying. Some families would by small amounts of cloth here and there until they had enough to make a hot air balloon. Then they would fly across the wall. Some people even tried to climb the wall. A few people made it, but the majority of people were shot by border guards.
The Soviet Union changed leaders and became weaker. So many people began escaping and rebelling that many government leaders were forced to resign. The new government prepared laws that would open the borders. They knew that people would not stop escaping, so why bother trying to hold them. Once the borders were open, there was no reason for the Berlin wall. It was not stopping the passing between the Capitalists and Communists. It was torn down.
The Soviet Union changed leaders and became weaker. So many people began escaping and rebelling that many government leaders were forced to resign. The new government prepared laws that would open the borders. They knew that people would not stop escaping, so why bother trying to hold them. Once the borders were open, there was no reason for the Berlin wall. It was not stopping the passing between the Capitalists and Communists. It was torn down.