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Germany is Divided
After World War II, Germany and its capital Berlin are divided into four occupation zones. France, Great Britain, Soviet Russia, and the United States share these zones -
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Berlin Wall
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Federal Republic of Germany is created
France, the United States, and Britain unite their occupation zones to form West Germany. This area was democratic while East Berlin remained communist. -
Land Blockade of West Berlin
In retaliation, the USSR decides to put up a land blockade on West Berlin to force evacuation. However, this did not work because a massive airlift from Britain and the US kept West Berlin afloat with supplies. The blockade was taken down in 1949 -
Evacuation of East Germany
By August, 1961, 2000 Germans evacuated East Berlin per day. This had massive impacts on its economy. Nikita Khruschev, the Soviet leader, recommended that West Berlin be closed off from East Berlin in response to this. -
Berlin Wall is Built
To stop the sheer number of evacuations, the Berlin wall was built. It was put up nearly overnight as barbwire fencing. The closing of pathways between East and West Berlin left Easterners devastated. Many still attempted to cross but few succeeded. Guards were placed at regular intervals of the wall to prevent escape -
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Wall Continues to Grow
Throughout the next 20+ years, the wall continued to be built up. By the 1980's, it was enforced through 28 miles of Berlin and 75 miles around West Berlin. There was also now a barrier covering most of the 850-mile border between East and West Germany. -
Wall is Made Stronger
After 2 days, they begand to replace the barbed wire with concrete. As this wall grew, it became a symbol of the Cold War because it was a litteral "iron curtain" that divided the two opposing forces, the communists and the capitolists. -
Overwhelming Objection
Democtratization began to sweep across Eastern Europe. Therefore, traveling restrictions were gradually lifted between East and West Germany. Eventually, the East German boarder guards allowed passage through the wall after much demand for it. -
Germany is Reunited
