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Walter Ulbricht Holds an International Press Conference
During the summer of 1961, thousands of East Germans began to flood into West Germany because of the harsh conditions in East Germany. They also fled to West Germany because they feared that the border between West and East Germany would one day be closed off. In an international press conference, the leader of East Germany, Walter Ulbricht, stated, "Nobody intends to build a wall". Image(https://ghdi.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=1204) -
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The Creation and Destruction of the Berlin Wall Introduction
The Berlin Wall was a barrier that divided East and West Germany from 1961 to 1989. The main goal of the wall was to protect East Germany's socialist state and keep out any influence West Germans could have on their government. As a result, East Germany prevented their citizens from traveling to West Germany in order to protect its socialist state and sustain its economy. Eventually tensions would rise and the state of the Berlin wall would come into question. -
East German Troops Begin Construction on the Berlin Wall
On August 12, Ulbricht attended a private meeting in the woods north of Berlin. Here Ulbricht approved the construction of the Berlin Wall. At midnight on August 13, East German troops and police closed off the border between East and West Germany and began construction on the wall. Today in Germany, August 13 is known as "Barbed Wire Sunday". Image(https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fury-as-leftwingers-hail-glories-of-berlin-wall-n573mvjv7) -
First Killing by Border Guards of Someone Attempting to Cross the Wall
Günter Litfin was a 24 year old German tailor who lived in East Berlin. At around 4pm on August 24, he attempted to escape from East Berlin to West Berlin by swimming across the Spree River. However, he was spotted by East German guards while swimming. The East German guards shot and killed Günter as he was trying to get out of the river. He became the first person to be killed by East German guards while trying to cross the border. Image(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnter_Litfin) -
J.F.K. Rides in a Limo Through West Berlin
On June 26, 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy visited West Berlin and rode through town in an open-top limo. The main goal of Kennedy's visit was to erect a feeling of peace and solidarity between West and East Germany. During a speech he gave while visiting, he said, "I am a Berliner" as an attempt to bring peace between West and East Germany. Image(https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-john-f-kennedy-on-a-visit-to-west-berlin-ride-in-news-photo/549720145) -
Mikhail Gorbachev Becomes Leader of the Soviet Union
On March 11, 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union. During his time as President, he sought after a series of reforms to rid the Soviet Union with its communist ties. He supported reformist communist regimes in the Soviet-bloc countries in Eastern Europe and even agreed to withdrawing Soviet troops from these countries. He was also in support of reunifying West and East Germany and getting rid of the wall. Image(https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mikhail-Gorbachev) -
Reagan Gives His "Tear Down This Wall" Speech
On June 6, 1987, President Reagan gave his infamous speech just outside the Brandenburg gate in Berlin. The main goal of his speech was to bring peace and reunify West and East Germany. He also used this speech as an attempt to end the Cold War between the US and Russia. In his speech he called out President Gorbachev of Russia by stating these words, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Image(https://www.politico.eu/article/speechwriter-who-helped-reagan-tear-down-that-wall/) -
Protests Against the East German Government Become more Widespread
By January of 1989, there was growing unrest among the citizens of East Germany. They were unhappy with the communist regime that was in place in East Germany. They wanted change and they wanted a democracy. People began protesting and the protests gained popularity and eventually more and more people began going to them and supporting a democracy in East Germany. Image(http://chnm.gmu.edu/1989/items/show/679) -
Hungary Breaks from the Warsaw Pact
On September 10, 1989, Hungary did something that altered the course of the Berlin Wall forever. They decided to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact. Hungary, with Austria, opened their borders to East Germans, thus weakening the effectiveness of the Berlin Wall and border between East and West Germany. As a result, thousands and thousands of East Germans fled west. Image(https://www.deviantart.com/fjana/art/Warsaw-Pact-and-the-Eastern-Bloc-783583882) -
Huge Protest for Democracy in East Berlin Takes Place
On November 4, 1989, a huge protest known as the Alexanderplatz demonstration took place in East Berlin. It's main goal was to advocate for the use of democracy in East Germany. Nearly a million people took place in the protest and it became one of the largest demonstrations to ever take place in East Germany. This protest was also a key event that led to the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall. Image(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexanderplatz_demonstration) -
The Berlin Wall Begins to Fall
On November 9, 1989, Egon Krenz, the communist leader of East Germany at the time, issued a statement to the public. He said that starting the next day, all East Germans could go to West Germany if they applied for an exit visa. However, there was a mix-up in the announcement so East Berliners began swarming the wall, breached the wall and began flooding into West Germany. Image(https://www.dw.com/en/germany-celebrates-30-years-since-fall-of-berlin-wall-live-updates/a-51178230)
