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In May 1945, the Soviet Army was the first to reach the city of Berlin, the final stronghold of Nazi Germany. This marked the defeat of Nazi Germany, and the end of the war in Europe. Berlin was divided into four sectors; French, Soviet, British and American.
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At the instigation of the Soviet Military administration the demarcation line between East and West Germany is safeguarded
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A 30 day valid Interpenetrates is required to travel between the sectors in Germany
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A separate currency was established in East Germany in June 1948. This immediately preceded a number of significant and aggressive changes to the relations between East and West.
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On June 24, 1948, the Berlin Blockade began. The Soviets disallowed supplies and goods from entering West Berlin. In response, the United States airlifted supplies into West Berlin for a period of several months.
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In response to growing tensions with the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO was established to provide for defense and support democracy
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End of Berlin blockade
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On October 7, 1949, East German officials officially proclaimed the existence of the German Democratic Republic, commonly called East Germany or the GDR.
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East German officials met with Stalin in April 1952. They were specifically concerned at this time with limiting the movement of East Germans to the West.
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The East German borders were formally closed, disallowing access from the West in May 1952. This preceded the building of the Berlin Wall, but continues a progressive pattern of isolation.
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By December 11, 1957, East Germans could no longer leave the country to go into West Germany. They could, with permissions, still move between East and West Berlin in a limited capacity.
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In August 1961, the border between East and West Berlin was closed. A barbed wire fence was put into place, almost immediately followed by a heavier concrete wall. The wall was guarded, and anyone attempting to escape shot and killed.
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In December 1963, West Berliners were given permission to make limited visits to family in East Berlin. Families had, in many cases, been divided by the Berlin Wall.
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A larger, heavier and less penetrable wall was erected in 1965. This was the third wall. The first and second merged into a single large wall quite quickly.
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In 1975 and 1976, a new wall was erected, this one with defense capabilities to reduce escape. Even with the high risk of escape attempts, individuals still attempted to escape East Berlin by crossing the Berlin Wall.
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In June 1987, President Reagan called on Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the Soviet Union, to dismantle the Berlin Wall. Gorbachev had been making gradual changes to open up the Soviet Union and allow additional freedoms. In addition, other Soviet-controlled countries, including Hungary, had already opened their borders around this time.
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Access to West Berlin opened on November 9, 1989. East and West Berliners began to dismantle the Berlin Wall, tearing it down with simple hand tools and shouting, in a quote from U.S. President Kennedy, "Ich bin ein Berliner," or I am a Berliner.
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The Brandenburg Gate, closed for so many years, was formally opened in December 1989. The West German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, walked through the open gate and greeted the Prime Minister of East Germany.
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On October 23, 1990, East and West Germany were no more. The two countries reunified. This is not considered to be a new country, but an expansion of the Federal Republic of Germany, under the government and structures already present in West Germany.
