The Berlin Wall was a defensive structure.It was erected in 1961 on August 13. The construction of the Berlin Wall was an initiative of the government of the GDR. Up until 1989, this fence divided the city. West Berlin was separated from the East and the territory of the German Democratic Republic. According to her government, about 125 people were killed while trying to cross the fence. However, according to other sources, the number of victims was at least 1245 people.
The Berlin Wall became one of the symbols of the Cold War period.
Before the erection of the structure there was an openthe border between the eastern and western parts of the city. The dividing line passed through houses, waterways, streets, canals. Officially, there were 81 checkpoints on the streets, 13 in the subways and railways within the city. Along with this, there were illegal ways. There were more than a hundred of them. Every day for various reasons they needed from 300 to 500 thousand people crossed the border. Due to the lack of a clear physical boundary between the two zones, there were often conflicts and a massive leak in the FRG specialists. The Germans who lived in the Eastern part preferred to study in the GDR (there it was free), but to work in the territory of Germany.
The emergence of the Berlin Wall contributed toa serious aggravation in the political situation around Berlin. The West German government activated the "Halstein doctrine" in 1957. It provided for an immediate break in diplomatic relations with any state that recognized the GDR. In addition, the West German government rejected the proposal of the Eastern part of Germany on the formation of a confederation of German states. Instead, West Berlin insisted on holding elections. Along with this, in 1958 the authorities of the GDR claimed sovereignty over the western part of the country, based on "finding it on the territory of the GDR."
In the conditions of an exacerbation around Berlin of the situation inthe period from 3 to 5 August 1961 in Moscow, a meeting of the heads of ATS was convened. On it Walter Ulbricht (leader of the GDR) insisted on closing the border. After receiving support from the Allied countries on August 12, in accordance with this, a decision was adopted by the Council of Ministers in the GDR. In East Berlin, the police were brought into full readiness. On August 13, at one o'clock in the morning, a project called "China Wall 2" started. About 25 thousand armed groups occupied the border. Their actions were under the cover of the East German army. And the Soviet army was also in a state of readiness.
By August 15, the completely western part was delimited by barbed wire. The Berlin Wall is under construction. Its erection and re-equipment continued in the period from 1962 to 1975.
After the Berlin Wall was built,Citizens of the GDR needed a special permit to visit the Western part of the city. Only pensioners could pass unchecked. The attempt to flee the GDR was punishable by imprisonment for eight years. The attempt to destroy the fencing structures involved imprisonment for not less than five years. For assistance in trying to flee the GDR, the government deprived liberty for life.
In 1898, under the influence of Soviet restructuringHungary destroyed border fortifications on the border with Austria. However, the GDR (Austria's partner in the Warsaw Pact) was not going to follow its example. Soon, the German Republic lost control over the rapidly occurring events. Thousands of residents of the GDR began to travel to other Eastern European states with a view to from there to get to the FRG. In the West, the Germans fled and through Hungary. The opening of the Hungarian borders deprived the Berlin Wall of its meaning.
In 1898, November 9 at a press conference held by the chairman of the government in the GDR Shabovski new rules for visiting the country were announced. The same evening the residents rushed to the fence.
The destruction of the Berlin Wall has become a public holiday. Thousands of West Berliners came out to greet the Oriental guests.
