Subjects:
After the second World War in 1945, the victorious Allies, the US, Britain, France,
Russia divided Germany into four sectors, each under the control of an ally. The US,
British, and French Sectors combined to form a democratic state, The Federal Republic of
Germany, or West Germany. The Soviet sector became a communist state, The German
Democratic Republic, or East Germany, on October 7, 1949.
A barrier now separated east and West. Winston Churchill named this barrier the
Iron Curtain. Even though Berlin lay deep within the Soviet sector, the Allies thought it
best to divide this metropolis. Therefore Berlin was also divided into four sectors. Again
the US, British, and French Sectors combined to form West Berlin. The Soviet sector
became the East German capital, East Berlin.The governments of these two new countries
were set up by the occupying forces, not the populous. Most of the residents of East
Berlin and East Germany did not like the communist regime. In fact, most people were
The Berlin Wall, though not part of the iron curtain, was a reminder of it. The
. . .
only be healed by the hard work and understanding of generations to come. Over one-hundred died in the attempt.
However East Berliners still managed to get out. On October 27, 1961,
the Unites States sent tanks, jeeps and soldiers to Checkpoint Charley go guarantee US
officials access to West Berlin. There
were guard towers with machine guns and other weapons.
The reunification of Germany was a great victory for the German people and the
nations of the west. The GDR began building what they called "the anti-fascist
protection wall" on August 13, 1961, using barbed wire and anti-tank obsticales.
There were mass celebrations at the important places in both cities, including the
Brandenberg Gate and Kurfstendam in West Berlin.
During the twenty eight years the wall was standing, over five thousand people
tried to escape. The entire
wall was taken down except for the areas of historical importance such as the section in
front of the parliament of Berlin and the places with graffiti artwork.
Checkpoint Charley was the main crossing point for the American sector of West
Berlin. most were shot by the GDR border
guards. Shortly thereafter, a massive emigration of East berliners to
West Berlin began.
Essay's Topics
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