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Before the Wall
World War II is over and Berlin is divided into 4 sectors:
the American, British, French in the West and
the Soviet in the East -
LEADING UP TO THE BERLIN WALL
At the end of World War II, the Allied powers divided conquered Germany into four zones, each occupied by either the United States, Great Britain, France, or the Soviet Union (as agreed at the Potsdam Conference). The same was done with Germany's capital city, Berlin. -
Country Divided
A 30 day valid Interzonenpass is required to travel between the sectors in Germany -
Berlin Airlift
Berling Airlift begins sending aid to thousands -
West Germany
May 24, 1949 Federal Republic of Germany is founded
(West Germany) -
East Germany
October 7, 1949 German Democratic Republic is founded
(East Germany) -
Closing of Border
Travelling to West Germany became difficult after closing the border between East and West Germany in 1952. -
Trapped in East Germany
December 11, 1957 Leaving East Germany without permission is forbidden and violations are prosecuted with prison up to three years -
Construction of the Berlin Wall Begins
August 13, 1961 The Berlin sectorial border between East and West Berlin is closed, barriers are built -
JFK Gets Involved
June 26, 1963 President J. F. Kennedy visits Berlin and says: "Ich bin ein Berliner." ("I am a Berliner.") -
Help Is Offered
September 10, 1989 Hungarian government opens border for East German refugees -
Wall Is Opened
Berlin Wall is opened
