THE BERLIN WALL

AUG 12, 1961:

EAST GERMANY BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF THE BERLIN WALL

In an effort to stem the tide of refugees attempting to leave East Berlin, the communist government of
East Germany begins building the Berlin Wall to divide East and West Berlin. Construction of the wall
caused a short-term crisis in U.S.-Soviet bloc relations, and the wall itself came to symbolize the Cold
War.

Throughout the 1950s and into the early 1960s,

thousands of people from East Berlin crossed
over into West Berlin to reunite with families
and escape communist repression. In an effort
to stop that outflow, the government of East
Germany, on the night of August 12, 1961,
began to seal off all points of entrance into
West Berlin from East Berlin by stringing barbed
wire and posting sentries. In the days and weeks
to come, construction of a concrete block wall
began, complete with sentry towers and
minefields around it. The Berlin Wall succeeded
in completely sealing off the two sections of
Berlin. The U.S. government responded angrily.
Commanders of U.S. troops in West Berlin even
began to make plans to bulldoze the wall, but
gave up on the idea when the Soviets moved
armored units into position to protect it. The
West German government was furious with
America's lack of action, but President John F.
Kennedy believed that "A wall is a hell of a lot
better than a war." In an attempt to reassure
the West Germans that the United States was not abandoning them, Kennedy traveled to the Berlin
Wall in June 1963, and famously declared, "Ich bin ein Berliner!" ("I am a Berliner!"). Since the word
"Berliner" was commonly referred to as a jelly doughnut throughout most of Germany, Kennedy's
improper use of German grammar was also translated as "I am a jelly doughnut." However, due to the
context of his speech, Kennedy's intended meaning that he stood together with West Berlin in its
rivalry with communist East Berlin and the German Democratic Republic was understood by the
German people.

In the years to come, the Berlin Wall became a physical symbol of the Cold War. The stark division
between communist East Berlin and democratic West Berlin served as the subject for numerous
editorials and speeches in the United States, while the Soviet bloc characterized the wall as a
necessary protection against the degrading and immoral influences of decadent Western culture and
capitalism. During the lifetime of the wall, nearly 80 people were killed trying to escape from East to
West Berlin. In late 1989, with communist governments falling throughout Eastern Europe, the Berlin
Wall was finally opened and then demolished. For many observers, this action was the signal that the
Cold War was finally coming to an end.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/east-germany-begins-construction-of-the-berlin-wall

1960s: Kennedy to the Moon

 THE BERLIN WALL

Study the following four photographs carefully.

1960s: Kennedy to the Moon

THE BERLIN WALL

1) Look at the cars and streets in Sources

1:26 and 1:27. What evidence do these
provide about life in East and West Berlin
in the post-war years? (Think about
economic prosperity and personal
freedoms)

2) What evidence do Sources 1:28 and 1:29

provide about life in Berlin after the
construction of the wall?

3) What was the purpose of the Berlin

Wall? How successfully do you think it
was? Explain.

4) Write a paragraph arguing why you think

people attempted to escape from East
Berlin to West Berlin. Use the evidence
gather from these sources to support
your argument.

1960s: Kennedy to the Moon

 THE BERLIN WALL

Source 1:29 On August15, 1961 on the third day of the wall’s construction 19 year old guard, Conrad Schumann jumped
over the barbed wire to escape to West Berlin. He committed suicide in 1998.

FOCUS QUESTIONS

What was the Berlin Wall? Why was it constructed?

How did the wall impact the lives of the people of Berlin?

What was the significance of the Berlin Wall in the Cold War?

HOW THE BERLIN WALL WORKED

by Ed Grabianowski

Visit this website for a detailed explanation of the Berlin Wall.

until page 5.

1960s: Kennedy to the Moon

 THE BERLIN WALL

This short documentary called The Wall (10

min) was made in 1962. It shows the impact the
wall had on the lives of the people. View it and
answer these questions.

1) What actions did the West Berliners

take during the first year to maintain links with
their friends and families?

2) What did they do to help East Berliners

escape?

3) Describe the attitude of the West

Berliners that is conveyed in this short film.

• This video shows early attempts to flee East Berlin as the wall developed.

• Explore the TIMELINE starting with Oct. 1961 when Soviet and US tanks face each other at
Checkpoint Charlie and make sure you view Kennedy’s visit in Jun 1963

• View the Walled In! video animation which details the nature, extent and statistics of both the
berlin wall and the border between East Germany and West Germany.
1) How many border troops defend the wall?
2) Explain how the Berlin Wall is more than a wall.
3) Outline the different methods used to stop people escaping over the Berlin Wall.
4) Why are weak points left in the wall?
5) How many people died trying to escape over the wall?
6) Why might the East Germans have demolished the Church of Reconciliation?
7) Explain the following terms:
a. Death Strip
b. Stalin’s Lawn
c. Operation Vermin
8) For what are the platform towers in West Berlin used?
9) The 1,378 km border between east and West Germany is also fortified. List the wide variety of
methods used to stop East Germans escaping into the west.

Extended Responses:
a) Assess the impact of the Berlin Wall.
b) Explain the significance of the Berlin Wall to the Cold war.

1960s: Kennedy to the Moon