The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall In partial completion of MEDT 7477 For Dr. O.P. Cooper By Has Slone

Berlin US UK French USSR

Truman Doctrine March 12, 1947 "the policy of the United States to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures." Truman reasoned, because these "totalitarian regimes" coerced "free peoples," they represented a threat to international peace and the national security of the United States. US President, Harry Truman

Purpose of the Marshall Plan PURPOSES – Provide Europeans with an attractive option to communism – Make the U.S. look good by giving Europeans hope by providing for immediate needs of the people – Provide financial opportunities for the U.S. to later trade with European nations – Cause Stalin (Soviet Union) to put up a “wall” dividing Europe which aided containment of communism – Cause friction between Stalin and satellite countries by forbidding acceptance of U.S. aide

Trieste Stettin

Cold War

The Soviet Blockade of Berlin C-47s unloading at Tempelhof Airport in Berlin during the Berlin Blockade.

Berlin Airlift

Berlin, Germany

Exodus from GDR (East Germany to West Germany) via Berlin

The Wall goes up! East German Combat Groups of the Working Class close the border on 13 August 1961 in preparation of the Berlin Wall construction. East German construction workers building the Berlin Wall, 20 November 1961

Specifications for the Wall

"There are some who say that Communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin." --President John F. Kennedy, Berlin, Germany, June 26, 1963 "Ich bin ein Berliner“ (I am a Berliner).

Escape Tactics

Hopping over the wall

Memoriam Berlin, Oberbaumbrücke 1962 Remembering of an unknown refugee who was killed by East German border guards. Peter Fechter shot by East German Border Guards and left to bleed to death before being retrieved.

Cuban Missile Crisis A US Navy P-2H Neptune of VP-18 flying over a Soviet cargo ship with crated Il-28s on deck during the Cuban Crisis. [ President Kennedy signs the Proclamation for Interdiction of the Delivery of Offensive Weapons to Cuba at the Oval Office on October 23, 1962.

Ronald Reagan and the Cold War (We win. They lose!)

“Mr. Gorbachev, Tear down this wall” Reagan used the setting in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin to address Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader, in a speech that included the plea: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."

Hungarian Demonstrations: the beginning of the end Protest and Demonstration banner

Brandenburg Gate, 2010

Berlin Wall Timeline May 8, 1945 World War II is over and Berlin is divided into 4 sectors: the American, British, French in the West and the Soviet in the East June 30, 1946 At the instigation of the Soviet Military administration the demarcation line between East and West Germany is safeguarded June 23, 1948 Currency reform in Berlin, Berlin is divided into two different currency zones June 24, 1948 Begin of the Berlin blockade June 25, 1948 Berlin Airlift begins May 12, 1949 End of Berlin blockade May 24, 1949 Federal Republic of Germany is founded (West Germany) September 30, 1949 End of Berlin Airlift October 7, 1949 German Democratic Republic is founded (East Germany )

Berlin Wall Timeline (2) May 26, 1952 Border between East and West Germany and between East Germany and West Berlin is closed. Only the border between East and West Berlin is still opened. June 17, 1953 Uprising of East Berlin building workers against the imposition of increased working norms, suppression by Red Army tanks. December 11, 1957 Leaving East Germany without permission is forbidden and violations are prosecuted with prison up to three years. August 13, 1961 The Berlin sectorial border between East and West Berlin is closed, barriers are built. August 14, 1961 Brandenburg Gate is closed. August 26, 1961 All crossing points are closed for West Berlin citizens. June 26, 1963 President J. F. Kennedy visits Berlin. December 17, 1963 West Berliner citizen may visit East Berlin the first time after more than two years.

Berlin Wall Timeline (3) September 3, 1971 Four Power's Agreement over Berlin visiting becomes easier for West Berliners. June 12, 1987 President Ronald Reagan visits Berlin and urges Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. September 10, 1989 Hungarian government opens border for East German refugees. November 9, 1989 Berlin Wall is opened. December 22, 1989 Brandenburg Gate is opened. October 3, 1990 Germany is reunited.

Hours leading to the construction 1. Saturday, August 12, Under leadership of Erich Honecker 3. Very Secretive a) Only about 20 top level leaders knew anything b) Others were told they were "exercises" c) No code word was ever issued d) Minimal written down (1) Only hand written (2) Single Person 4. Ways to minimize reaction and chance of war a) East Germany army units standing ready b) Bi-lingual Soviet-German staff to "trivialize" the actions c) Made actions look like local police initiative (1) Looked like crowd control (2) 10,000 Person front line was People's Police and the Riot Police (3) Assisted by militia known as Battle Groups of the Working Class (a) Chose as most visible armed section of movement (b) Seemed less warlike than regular army © Implication to the citizens of East Germany (1) No movement between East Germany and West Germany (2) Restricted almost all movement out of country

Specifications for the wall 1. At first a) Barbed wire b) Armed guards 2. After final fortification a) Dimensions (1) 107 km long (2) 4 m high at most locations (3) Concrete wall section with concrete tube placed on top (4) Lighted control area (a) People who reached this area were shot without warning (b) This is where most people were caught (5) A deep trench in ground to prevent vehicles from breaking through (6) Patrol track with guard towers, attack dogs, and bunkers (7) Then a second wall b) Cut through 192 streets

The Fall A. November 9, 1989 at about 7 PM B. Gunter Schabowski 1. Leader of the East Berlin communist party 2. Announced that the border would be opened for "private trips abroad" a) Massive gatherings at the wall b) Wall "woodpecker" started tearing down wall almost immediately c) Massive emigration of East Berliners to West Berlin C. November 10, 1989 and December 22, Checkpoints were opened for pedestrians 2. Again parties broke out D. July 1, East and West Germany reunited 2. Assumed West Germany's former name, The Federal Republic of Germany 3. All Restrictions on travel between East and West Germany were dropped 4. The wall was taken down except for a few areas a) At the Bernauer Strasse b) In front of the Neiderkirchnerstrasse (former Prussian Parliament and current Berlin Parliament)