The History of the Berlin Wall: A symbol of Division and Unity

One of the most interesting topics you can get to know if you are interested in general culture is the Berlin Wall's past significance. This historical monument, of which today there are only remnants of what it once was, literally divided humanity in the past.

As a result, it has become one of the most interesting tourist attractions of the German capital. A somewhat curious subject, because in the past it represented a true symbol of terror and the Cold War. However, with the passing of time this changed and now it is associated with more positive meanings, which can be seen reflected in the Berlin Urban art.

Now, to understand this it is necessary to go deeper into different topics, starting from the historical contextualization of the creation of the wall. Therefore, join us in this informative adventure where you will learn everything you need to know to visit the Berlin Wall.

Knowing the context of the history of the Berlin Wall

The first thing you should know to understand why this historical monument is so fascinating is the context in which it was built. In this regard it must be said that it all began in 1961, a time when East Germany had to take measures to curb the brain drain and labor to West Germany.

Such migration was occurring because, compared to the economy of East Berlin, the economy of West Berlin was flourishing. Therefore, in that context it was a logical response to build the wall as a solution.

After its creation, the city was divided. This division remained in force for 28 years, which not only caused a decrease in migration, but also inevitably caused families and friends to be separated.

At the time, the wall seemed unbreakable, but everything changed in 1989, when it collapsed. It may seem that the wall did not stand for very long. However, the consequences of building the Berlin Wall make it quite clear that the impact it had on society was quite huge.

It happens that more than 5,000 people tried to cross it, of whom approximately 100 did not make it, as they died in the attempt. This is how the wall ended up becoming the most faithful representation of the division that the world experienced between east and west because of the Cold War.

Features to appreciate when visiting the Berlin Wall

This structure was truly formidable, as it was 155 kilometers long. Of these, 43 were responsible for delimiting the border between East ad West Berlin. It was 3.60 meters high and had 68.42 kilometers of barbed wire. On the other hand, the impact of this construction is also fascinating, as it was able to cut 12 transport lines and 193 streets.

The death strip

An important point that deserves special mention is the so-called "Death Strip". This consisted of a highly fortified area that stood out within the wall. It contained a moat, a road through which patrol vehicles could circulate constantly, a barbed wire fence and watchtowers that had light projectors or rather high masts.

The function of this area was none other than to prevent people from being able to breach the wall. To accomplish its objective, it made use of multiple security measures, including tank traps, barbed wire, sand traps, light poles with night surveillance and ditches.

Because of all this, it was a particularly dangerous area, which marked the end of many brave people who decided to try to breach the wall and failed. Thanks to these characteristics, it is not difficult to understand why it got such a fearsome name.

At the time, it aroused fear among the inhabitants of East Berlin. In this sense, it is worth noting that the wall not only had an important political impact on society, bus also has an emotional impact on its inhabitants. Indeed, this construction became much more than a wall.

Stories of people who made it through the Berlin Wall

At this point in life, it has become more than clear that it was no small feat to try to breach this wall. However, as a matter of statistics, only some of the thousand of people who dared to face the wall managed to finally cross it.

Indeed, there are some quite famous cases that have been collected and immortalized in the history of the Berlin Wall as faithful testimonies that the human can sometimes manage to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

The Strelzyk and Wetzel Families

The case of the Strelzyk and Wetzel families is one of the most famous when talking about this wall. These two families set out to cross the wall to reach better opportunities in West Germany. To accomplish their goal, they had the ingenious idea of using a hot air balloon.

Their escape required not only ingenuity and meticulous planning, but also a great deal of courage. In the end, the families succeeded, and their story was saved for posterity.

Conrad Schumann

Another well-known and very interesting case is that of Private Conrad Schumann. On August 15, 1961, he made history by becoming the first defector from communist Germany when he decided to jump over the wall.

It was a very courageous decision for freedom, which marked Schumann forever. Fortunately for him, his decision earned him to become a true symbol of the fight against the division of society that the wall represented. Therefore, just like the wall, Schumann is often honored through works of art that refer to this construction.

In the case of the people who failed in the attempt to cross the wall, although their testimonies, for obvious reasons, have not been preserved for posterity, it is known that the death toll is around one hundred people. This number is remembered as an example of how tragic these kinds of divisions can be.

What caused the fall of the Berlin Wall?

By now, much has been said about what the wall represents, and it has clearly established the context in which it was built. However, history has already been written and in the end the wall eventually succumbed. So, what happened next?

It is obvious that the end of a construction that left such a deep mark on society had to have significant consequences. Well, it must be said that on November 9, 1989, a miracle happened.

A massive democratic movement brought down the German Democratic Republic (GDR), marking not only the end of the wall, but also the end of the Cold War. It also meant the long-awaited reunification of Germany, allowing families and friends who had been separated for 28 years to finally be reunited.

Even on a global level, this event was of great importance, as it laid the foundations for the construction of a new post-Cold War world order. In fact, the events triggered by the fall of the wall also implied the collapse of the communist regimes that existed in Eastern Europe.

Just one month after the fall of the Wall, the GDR collapsed completely, so that by 1990 Germany was officially reunified. The Soviet Union also underwent major changes after this event. It is therefore quite clear that the world political landscape was never the same again.

Celebrations

Another very clear point is that this wall represented a real reign of terror, especially for the inhabitants of East Berlin. It is therefore logical that after its fall, the atmosphere was filled with a new air of joy and happiness. Indeed, on November 9, quite emotional celebrations were hold on a massive scale not only in Berlin, but throughout the entire Germany.

Millions of people gathered in the streets to exchange joy, tears and hugs. They even worked together to put an end to the wall, using sledgehammers and chisels. Reflecting on this underscores that a visit to the wall's remnants today isn't merely a visit to a simple structure, but a journey through the history of the Berlin Wall, a symbol that marked humanity forever.

What does the Berlin Wall represent today?

When you decide to visit the Berlin Wall, the experience can become much more enriching if you consider all the things that have been mentioned in this article. It happens that with most of the constructions, tourists focus on contemplating the old architecture.

However, while the design of the Berlin Wall is impressive, it would be a big mistake to just look at this. It is more striking to think about all that happened in the past, how imposing it became and how simple it may seem today.

If you are one of the more sentimental people, you will be pleased to know that this wall currently represents unity and freedom, being a quite accurate symbol of these values, especially within German culture.

In fact, its cultural impact is so great that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly stressed its importance to German society, as it reminds all citizens of an important part of their past and that no wall can leave people out.

On the other hand, it has also become the inspiration for celebrating the anniversary of the fall of the wall every year. In fact, this date marks one of the best times to visit Berlin, since it is the time for talks, art exhibitions and films commemorating a historical milestone that had such a great impact. 

While it is true that these kinds of recreational and educational activities can be enjoyed in almost any area of the German capital, the area where the most significant ones are usually held is the Brandenburg Gate. This has even been the scene of events that take advantage of the original areas where historical actions were executed for the revolution in Berlin. 

Therefore, it is likely that now that you have acquired all this knowledge you have an intense desire to see the Berlin Wall. This is a more than excellent idea, as the experience of seeing it up close is indescribable and does not even remotely compare to seeing it through photos. 

It is an opportunity for tourism in a different way, focused not only on culture and entertainment, but also on personal reflection, as few monuments have this level of power to remind everyone how enduring the values of freedom can be. 

In addition, it also reminds us of the great value of tolerance and human rights, allowing us to inspire not only current generations, but also future generations, laying the foundations for building a better society in the future, one responsible enough not to continue making the same mistakes of the past.

Our recommendation to maximize your enjoyment is to make sure you bring your camera (unless you wish to use your smartphone) to immortalize your own memories of the visit. Also, if possible, it is recommended that you hire a tour guide, as these professionals are the perfect complement to all the information you have just discovered about this wall.

We have no doubt that a visit to the wall is much more interesting when you are well informed about its past. Can you imagine discovering by yourself what the "Death Strip" is? It is clearly exciting to learn all about the history of the Berlin Wall. Without further ado, we wish you the best on your next vacation visiting this wall.