Initially, I was going to write an article just about our walks. in Berlin, but in the end it somehow happened that the whole of it was basically it turned out just about one very touching and to the depths of the soul Personally impressed me. This is the famous Berlin Wall. I am writing “famous”, but I am ashamed of myself, because, imagine, before coming to Berlin, I just knew from the lessons of history that such was erected after World War II and divided Berlin into two parts, but why, when, by whom, and for what … never really was interested in. But I will start in order.
Where to stay in Berlin
Hotels in Berlin is better to book in advance, so I would recommend here you are:
- St Christophers Inn Berlin
- Generator berlin mitte
Do not forget to check discounts on the Roomguru service where you can see prices for the same hotel in different booking systems. On the example of hotels above:
- St Christophers Inn Berlin
- Generator berlin mitte
Good price, reviews and rating is also in order, the subway is nearby.
Berlin Wall
When we were in Berlin, to our shame, we understood that We do not know what to look for, except for the Reichstag and the monument Russian soldier, to which, by the way, we have not reached. About The Berlin Wall somehow did not even think. But circling the city with card, suddenly at some point discovered that we are close from Checkpoint Charlie (Checkpoint Charlie), stopped, revered description in our mini guide and to put it mildly, hooked.
Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie (Checkpoint Charlie)
Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin
Later, when we tried to explain to ourselves why it’s us. touched, we found a simple explanation for this — it’s not just them, it’s our common story! The Berlin Wall is essentially a symbol then political regime, it is a living personification of the “iron curtain “. In official documents, however, more often talk about cold war.
Not really interested in this topic, I found a lot stories and photos on this topic, I dare to state here in brief what what shocked me the most and posting some pics of that time, the authors of which I apologize in advance.
But first I’ll explain a little: in 1948, Berlin was divided into two parts, one of which, the east, was the capital of the GDR, and the second, western, was American, French and English occupation sectors. At first, the border could be crossed it is free that the inhabitants of East Berlin gladly and done every day, going to West Berlin to work, to the store, to friends and relatives. But it is not quite well affected economy of the GDR. There were other equally weighty, according to GDR governments, political and economic reasons why it was decided to enclose West Berlin impassable wall. As a result, for the night of August 13, 1961 the whole border with West Berlin was blocked, and by August 15 – completely enclosed with barbed wire, in the place of which the construction of the Berlin began quite quickly walls. At first it was stone, and later turned into the whole complex of reinforced concrete walls, ditches, metal nets, guard towers, etc.
The erection of the Berlin Wall
The erection of the Berlin Wall
The erection of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall with all its fortifications
Since the border was closed overnight, you can imagine how many people instantly lost who work, who friends, who relatives, who is the apartment … And all at once – freedom. Many put up with this they could not and almost immediately began to escape from the East Berlin to West. At first, it was not so difficult, but as the Berlin Wall complex grows and strengthens becoming more and more inventive and cunning.
You can read a lot about escaping attempts on the Internet, I will not talk about everything. I will describe only briefly those that were the most successful, original and memorable. I’m sorry, I will write without names and dates. Several times, immediately after erection The Berlin Wall, through it broke through, ramming it with trucks. On crossing points at high speed drove under barriers on sports cars that were too low to hurt barrier, crossed the river and lake, because it was the most unprotected plot fencing.
One of the very first shoots through the not yet built Berlin the wall
The border between West and East Berlin often passed straight to the houses, and it turned out that the entrance was on the east territory, and the windows overlooked the West. When just started to build The Berlin Wall, many residents of the house boldly jumped out of the windows onto the street where Western firefighters used to catch them often city residents. But all these windows very soon bricked up. Interesting as well were the tenants relocated, or did they live without daylight?
Escape of a 77-year-old East Berliner
The first shoots of East Berliners
The first shoots of East Berliners
Blast the windows overlooking the West of Berlin
Tunnels were very popular, they were dug in dozens, and it was the most crowded way of escape (ran by 20-50 people at a time). Later, particularly adventurous western businessmen even began to earn on this money, placing in the newspaper ads “Let’s help in the family problems. ”
Descent to the tunnel
The tunnel, which ran dozens of people
There were very original shoots: for example, two families made homemade balloon and flew over the Berlin Wall on it, the brothers crossed into West Berlin, stretching the cable between the houses and down it at the roulette table.
Two brothers moving over the Berlin Wall
When a few years later, Western residents were allowed to special passes to enter the territory of East Berlin to see relatives, sophisticated exportation methods were invented people in cars. Sometimes used very small cars redesigned so that under the hood or in trunk could hide people. Border guards did not even guess that instead of a motor there can be a man. Many people hid in suitcases, sometimes they were put on two, between them were done the slits, in this way, the man was placed completely, he was not had to take shape.
So people were transported through the Berlin Wall
So people were transported through the Berlin Wall
So people were transported through the Berlin Wall
So people were transported through the Berlin Wall
Twin slotted cases
Once, three girls were transported in a metal cylinder
Almost immediately, a decree was issued to shoot at all who tried to escape. to people. One of the most famous victims of this inhuman decree became a young guy, Peter Fechter, who an escape attempt was wounded in the stomach and left to bleed by the wall, until he died. Unofficial figures of arrests for escape (3221 people), deaths (from 160 to 938 people) and injuries (from 120 to 260 man) when trying to overcome the Berlin Wall just terrify!
One of the famous victims is Peter Fechter
One of the famous victims is Peter Fechter
When I read all these stories about escapes from East Berlin, I had a question on which I could not find the answer anywhere, but Where did all the runaway live in West Berlin? After all, he, too, was not rubber, and according to unconfirmed data one way or another successfully managed to escape 5043 people.
Near Checkpoint Charlie there is a museum dedicated to the history of Berlin. the wall. In it, Rainer Hildebrandt, the founder of the museum, gathered many adaptations that residents of East Berlin used to escape to West Berlin. The museum itself, unfortunately we did not hit, but unusually strong emotions even caused us sold in the nearby souvenir shop cards with a depiction of the Berlin Wall and photo sketches from everyday life of that time. And I was very touched by Chekpoit Charlie request-appeal to our president.
Amazing inscription on Checkpoint Charlie and the portrait of the founder the museum
You are entering the American sector, Checkpoint Charlie
Meanwhile, life went on as usual, the people of West Berlin had free access to the wall, could walk along it and use it in their needs. Many artists painted western side of the berlin wall graffiti some of these images became famous all over the world, such as, for example, Honecker’s Kiss and Brezhnev “.
Life at the Berlin Wall
West Berlin, life behind the Berlin Wall
Life behind the Berlin Wall, West Berlin
Kiss Honecker and Brezhnev
People often came to the wall to look at to their loved ones, wave them with a handkerchief, show the children, grandchildren, siblings. It’s terrible, family, loved ones, relatives, loved ones, separated by concrete and someone’s perfect indifference. After all, even if it was so necessary for economics and / or politics, then was to ensure that people do not suffer so to reunite at least to relatives …
Life at the Berlin Wall
Life at the Berlin Wall
Life at the Berlin Wall
West Berlin residents look to the East
The fall of the Berlin Wall took place on November 9, 1989. The reason this significant event was the fact that one of the countries the socialist camp, Hungary, opened the borders with Austria, and about 15 thousand GDR citizens left the country to get to West Germany. The remaining East German residents took to the streets with demonstrations and demands for the observance of their civil rights. And so On November 9, the head of the GDR announced that he could leave the country, having a special visa. However, the people did not wait for this, millions of citizens just poured out into the street and headed towards Berlin Wall. The border guards could not keep such a crowd, and borders were open. On the other side of their wall compatriots met West German inhabitants. Reigned an atmosphere of joy and happiness from reunion.
Fall of the berlin wall
Fall of the berlin wall
Fall of the berlin wall
Fall of the berlin wall
It has been argued that when universal rejoicing passed, the inhabitants different germanium began to feel a huge ideological abyss between themselves. It is said that it is felt to this day, and East Berliners are still different from West Berliners. But us so far it was not possible to check it. Now sometimes no, no, but a rumor slips that some Germans are convinced that when The Berlin Wall was better off than now. Although maybe so say those who generally believe that before and the sun was brighter, and grass is greener and life is better.
In any case, such a terrible phenomenon in history was, and the remnants its still preserved in berlin. And when you walk down the street and under you see with your feet the marks where the Berlin Wall used to go when you can touch her fragments, and you understand how much pain, excitement and fear brought this building, you start to feel their involvement in this story.
Remains of the Berlin Wall.
Berlin Wall now
Fragments of the Berlin Wall at Potsdamer Platz
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