It Was a Product of Germany’s Defeat
To understand its origins, we must go back to the end of World War II. Following the Yalta Conference, Germany, which surrendered in 1945, was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the Allies.
As the capital, Berlin itself was also split in two:
- The western part was managed by France, the United States, and the United Kingdom and became part of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).
- The eastern part was occupied by the Soviets and became part of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
While West Germany (FRG) experienced rapid economic growth and modernization, life in East Germany (GDR) was much harsher, with a lower standard of living. Since 1949, hundreds of thousands of East Germans fled to West Berlin in search of better opportunities. Fearing economic collapse and a population drain, the East German communist government decided to take drastic action.
The Berlin Wall Was Built Overnight
On the night of August 12–13, 1961, East German soldiers, backed by the Soviets, secretly began constructing the Berlin Wall. Barbed wire, fences, and concrete barriers were erected while Berliners slept.
By the morning of August 13, hundreds of people lost their jobs, and thousands of families were suddenly separated. The Berlin Wall quickly became the most visible symbol of the Cold War.
“Berlin Wall” Was Not Its Official Name
While West Germans nicknamed it the “Wall of Shame,” the East German government officially called it the “Anti-Fascist Protection Wall” (Antifaschistischer Schutzwall).
Its stated purpose was to prevent East Germans—whom the regime labeled “deserters of the republic”—from escaping to the West. In reality, it was a measure to stop mass emigration from East Germany.
It Was More Than Just a Wall
The Berlin Wall was not a simple concrete barrier. It was a heavily fortified military system:
- Two parallel concrete walls, each 3.6 meters (12 feet) high
- Barbed wire and fences
- A no-man’s land with landmines
- Hundreds of watchtowers
- Nearly 15,000 border guards ordered to shoot anyone trying to escape
At least 140 people lost their lives attempting to cross the Wall between 1961 and 1989, according to official figures.
It Did Not Completely Fall in 1989
Although some travel permissions were granted in the 1970s, these primarily allowed West Germans to visit the East for short stays.
In 1989, events accelerated:
- The collapse of the Iron Curtain in Hungary allowed East Germans to flee through Czechoslovakia.
- Massive protests in East Germany pressured the government to lift travel restrictions.
- On November 9, 1989, an East German official mistakenly announced that border crossings were now open. Thousands of people rushed to the Wall that night, leading to its symbolic “fall.”
However, the official dismantling of the Wall only began in June 1990. Today, a one-kilometer-long section remains as a historical monument.