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Germany’s Rich And Extensive History
By CruiseDirector | December 18, 2009
Construction commenced on The Berlin Wall early in the morning of Sunday, August 13, 1961. It was a frantic yet effective effort by the GDR (German Democratic Republic) to prohibit East Berliners evading the Soviet-controlled East German state into the West of the city, which was then under the control by the Americans, British and French. You should go to Berlin yourself to check this out and stay in one of the many Berlin apartments
Berlin’s rare situation as a city half-controlled by Western forces, in the focus of the Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany, made it a central end for tensions between the Allies and the Soviets and a place where disagreeing ideologies were imposed side-by-side. However, as more and more people in the Soviet-controlled East grew disheartened with communism and the progressively more tyrannical economic and political situation, an increasing amount began defecting to the West. By 1961 an predicted 1,500 people a day were going to the West, damaging both the credibility and – more importantly – the workforce of the GDR. Soon rumours began to spread about a wall, and it wasn’t long after that those rumours were made a solid reality.
In a masterfully-planned operation, spanning just 24 hours, the streets of Berlin were torn up, barricades of paving stones were erected, tanks were gathered at essential places and subways and local railway services were interrupted, so that within a day the West of Berlin was absolutely sealed off from the East. As of that same day people of East Berlin and the GDR were no longer allowed to go into the West of the city (including the 60,000 who had been commuters). In reply to global criticism that such severe measures unavoidably drew, the GDR claimed that the barrier had been raised as an ‘anti-fascist protection wall’, and that they had moved to prevent a third world war.
The version of the ‘Wall’ that began life in 1961, was in fact not a wall but a 96 miles barbed wire fence. However, after this incarnation proved too easy to scale, work started in 1962 on a second fence, parallel to the first but up to 100 yards further in. The region in between the two fences was demolished to create an vacant space, which became broadly known as “death strip” as it was here that many would-be escapers met their doom. The strip was roofed with raked gravel, making it easy to spot footprints, it provided no cover, was mined and booby-trapped with tripwires and, most importantly, it offered a clear field of fire to the armed guards – who were instructed to shoot on sight.
Later on even these measures were deemed insufficient and a concrete wall was added in 1965, which served until 1975 when the notorious ‘Stützwandelement UL 12.11’ was built. Known also as Grenzmauer 75 (Border Wall ’75), it was the final and most sophisticated version of the Wall. It was made from 45,000 divided sections of reinforced concrete, each 3.6 m high and 1.5 m wide, and topped with a smooth pipe, intended to make it more difficult for escapers to scale it. The Grenzmauer was reinforced by mesh fencing, signal fencing, anti-vehicle trenches, barbed wire, over 300 watchtowers, and thirty bunkers… Just to be on the safe side!
So why don’t you go to Berlin and experience this first hand. You will educate yourself a great deal on this large history and have an amazing time in the German capital. You may also consider staying in one of the many apartments in Berlin all around the city when you visit.
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