The Berlin Wall was the 97-mile-long physical barrier that separated the city of West Berlin from East Berlin and the rest of East Germany from 1961 until the East German government relaxed border controls in November 1989. The 13-foot-high concrete wall snaked through Berlin, effectively sealing off West Berlin from ground access except for through heavily guarded checkpoints. It included guard towers and a wide area known as the “death strip” that contained anti-vehicle trenches, barbed wire, and other defenses. The wall came to symbolize the “Iron Curtain” that separated Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War.

As East Germany grew more socialist in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, about 3.5 million East Germans fled from East Berlin into democratic West Berlin. From there, they could then travel to West Germany and other Western European countries. It became clear to the powers of East Germany that they might not survive as a state with open borders to the West. Between 1961 and 1989, the wall prevented almost all such emigration.

Among the many attempt to escape included through underground tunnels, hot-air balloons, and with the support of organized groups of Fluchthelfer (flight helpers). The East German border guards’ shoot-to-kill order against refugees resulted in about 250-300 deaths between August 1961, and February 1989.

Demonstrations and protests in the late 1980’s began to build stress on the East German government to open the city. In the summer of 1989, neighboring Hungary opened its border and thousands of East Germans fled the communist country for the West. The flood of refugees added to the pressure on the East German government to do something.

The government planned to allow some round-trip crossings and announced a revised Travel Law on November 9, 1989. As news broke, thousands of East Germans streamed to Berlin border crossings. Surprised guards were overwhelmed and could not stop the crowds that forced the gates’ opening. Amid scenes of jubilation, people took hammers and chiseled away the wall piece by piece. Soon large segments were removed and remnants of the Berlin Wall became souvenirs all over the world. Larger chunks were shredded and utilized for road construction in Germany. Today, only a few sections of the wall can still be seen.

Directions: After reading the article, answer the following questions. ​ ​ 1. What question is answered in the first paragraph? a. Who built the Berlin Wall? b. How was the Berlin Wall torn down? c. What was the Berlin Wall like? d. How could you escape past the Berlin Wall?

2. Why was the Berlin Wall built?

3. In what way did the Berlin Wall symbolize the “Iron Curtain”?

4. What does the word “jubilation” mean in the last paragraph? a. Horror b. Joy c. Disappointment d. Caution

5. Which group of people do you think wanted the Berlin Wall torn down more – East Berliners or West Berliners? Explain your choice.

6. What do you think was the best method to leave East Germany and escape to West Berlin? How would you do it? Be as detailed as possible.

7. Why was the Berlin Wall called a “Canvas of Concrete”?