The Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall by Reina Hernandez and June Kwon

The Berlin Wall Leading up to the Wall Tearing down the Wall While standing The Wall After effects

Post WWII World Potsdam and Yalta oversaw increasing tensions between the US and Soviet Union At the end of World War II, the main Allied powers—the United States, France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union—divided Germany into two zones. The Soviet Union occupied East Germany and installed a rigidly controlled communist state. The other three Allies shared the occupation of West Germany and helped rebuild the country as a capitalist democracy. 1948: Soviets try to cut off West Berlin by closing off main road into the city (Berlin Airlift)

Split of Germany (1949) West Germany (the ‘Federal Republic of Germany’) : a prosperous democracy of some 50 million anchored into what was to become the Western NATO al­liance East Germany (the ‘German Democratic Republic’) : a struggling social experiment, a third as large, allied to the Communist Warsaw Pact.

Berlin Wall Established during 60’s by communist East Germany to separate from non-communist West Germany A physical division of East and West Germany during the Cold War that ran across cemeteries and along canals, zigzagging through the city streets.

Symbols The Cold War Communist regime’s suppression of rights West’s inability to stand up against tyranny

While it Stood Berlin Wall dictated quotidian lives of Berliners for almost 3 decades. Citizens’ attempts to escape over the Berlin Wall and the death strip into the west Aug 24th 1961: 24-year-old East Berliner Günter Litfin becomes the first escaper to be shot dead trying to cross into the West. Many more deaths and injuries follow. East and West Germany dealt with the legacy of Nazism--and the meaning of the Holocaust--in quite different ways

Leading up to its fall Protests break out in East Germany, which became known as “The Peaceful Revolution” “wir wollen raus” We want out “Wir bleiben hier” We’re staying here

Tearing it down Gorbachev did not resist its destruction nor did he use the violent means available to him to defend what was essential.

Dissolution of the Soviet Union In 1990, there emerged a reunified Germany region’s communist powers gave up authority and communist hold USSR spiraled, losing control of subjects divided into 15 sovereign states The two former Cold War adversaries lifted restrictions on the numbers and movement of diplomatic, consular, and official personnel. In January 1993, three weeks before leaving office, Bush traveled to Moscow to sign the START II Treaty that codified those nuclear reductions.

After Effects Democratic reforms in Eastern Germany The downfall of the Communist regime East Germany had a vibrant literary culture and produced a great many novels that reflect the experience of the Wall. There was also films that were produced.