When was the Berlin Wall erected?
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The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961. More precisely, its construction began on the night of August 12-13, 1961. The wall was built by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) to prevent East German citizens from fleeing to West Germany via West Berlin, which was then a Western enclave in East German territory.
After the Second World War, Germany was divided into two zones of occupation: the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in the west, under the influence of the USA, the UK and France, and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the east, under the influence of the Soviet Union. Berlin, although located in the GDR, was also divided into sectors of occupation. This division quickly became a major ideological and political confrontation during the Cold War.
Before the Wall was built, Berlin was a crucial crossing point for East Germans wishing to flee to the West. Between 1949 and 1961, some 2.7 million people left East Germany for West Germany, mainly via West Berlin. To halt this mass exodus, the East German government, with the support of the Soviet Union, decided to build a wall around West Berlin, cutting the city in two and blocking escape routes.
The Berlin Wall began as a simple barbed-wire fence, but was soon reinforced into a more sophisticated and formidable structure. Eventually, it consisted of two parallel walls, separated by a death zone of armed patrols, watchtowers, anti-tank ditches and other security barriers.
The Berlin Wall became the most powerful symbol of the Cold War and the division of Europe into two opposing blocs. For almost three decades, it separated families and friends, and many people lost their lives trying to cross it.
The Berlin Wall came down on November 9, 1989, largely thanks to popular pressure and the political reforms underway in Eastern Europe. This historic event marked the beginning of German reunification and symbolized the end of the Cold War.
The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961 to prevent the exodus of East Germans to the West. It became a powerful symbol of the Cold War divide and existed until its fall in 1989, marking a crucial step towards German reunification and the end of this period of global tension.
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When was the Berlin Wall erected?
Answer
The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961. It symbolized the division between East and West during the Cold War. It fell in 1989, marking the end of that period.