Berlin wall

Today I a going to write about the Berlin wall as it is a very large part of the history of Germany.

After the second world war Germany was split into four parts each run by a different country, France, England, America and Russia. France, England and America were allies at that time and together created West Germany while Russia created east Germany. Although Berlin was inside of east Germany it being the capital was split up between France, England, America and Russia. Up until 1961 East german citizens were allowed to enter west Germany. It became much more difficult in in 1952 when the inner German border was created to stop people from leaving east Germany as the conditions there where not very good. The Berlin wall was created in 1961 because nearly 3 million people had migrated from east Germany to west Germany from 1949 up until 1961! *1, *6 and *7

Construction on the Berlin wall started on the 13th August 1961. It was built by the German Democratic Republic (East German government.) *2

In case anyone tried to pass or climb the wall there would be armed guards at the top ready to shoot. If you tried to pass the wall you would be shot immediately and killed.  Over 80 people were killed while trying to escape! *3

Finally in 1989 on the 9th November after weeks of civil unrest the East German government granted permission for all GDR citizens to enter west Berlin and Germany. As soon as the news got out hundreds and hundreds of people from west Germany and east Germany all crowded round and climbed on the wall and celebrated. The demolition of the wall officially began on the 13th June 1990 and finished sometime in 1992. *2

One of the most famous checkpoints is checkpoint Charlie. Checkpoint Charlie was the only checkpoint where there would be queues of people waiting to cross. *5

The East side gallery is a 1316 metre long section of the Berlin wall that is still standing covered in over 100 paintings from artists all over the world! *4

This is one of my favourite parts of the Berlin wall

Here are some of the links I used:

*1     http://www.dailysoft.com/berlinwall/history/why-the-berlinwall-was-built.htm

*2     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall

*3    http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/east-germans-kill-man-trying-to-cross-berlin-wall

*4    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Side_Gallery

*5    https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Checkpoint_Charlie

*6    http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/wjec/history/pdf/berlin_blockade.pdf 

*7   http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/history/berlin-wall-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-barrier-that-divided-east-and-west-9847347.html