Germany ReunitedGermany ReunitedDivided in War-Reunited in Hope

The Division of Germany Post

WW2

The Division of Germany Post

WW2

Germany was divided by the

conquering armies following

World War Two.

The Soviet Union controlled The Soviet Union controlled

East Germany. The U.S.,

Great Britain and France

supervised West Germany.

This map shows the airlift of

the late 40’s to Berlin after the

Soviet blockade.

The Capital of Germany: Berlin

“A city divided.”

The Capital of Germany: Berlin

“A city divided.”Berlin was divided as

well into the same

divisions as the rest

of the country. The

only difference was

that Berlin is in East that Berlin is in East

Germany. There was

a corridor exactly

100 miles long that

connected West

Berlin with West

Germany.

Berlin Wall formedBerlin Wall formed

The wall began in August of 1961

with troops and tanks at each

intersection.

A simple chain link fence was put A simple chain link fence was put

up dividing Berlin, followed by a

cement wall.

The chain link fence and the

cement wall were only about 5 feet

in height and so the average

person could look over it.

The Early Berlin WallThe Early Berlin Wall

The Wall gains height and a pipeThe Wall gains height and a pipeThe East

German

government

wanted to

make the

wall more

formidable,

so they add so they add

pipe to stop

people from

gaining a

grip on the

top. It is

also higher

almost 12

ft. high.

More open space betweenMore open space betweenSpace was added

between the two walls,

as well as the pipe to the

top of the wall. The

lighter area became

known as the “Death

Zone”, because of the

people who got killed people who got killed

trying to cross it. The

platforms are on the

West German side of

the wall. The buildings

to the left are in East

Berlin.

The Improved wall of the 70’sThe Improved wall of the 70’sElectric lights were

added to the zone to

make it as bright as

daylight over the

area of the wall.

Cement was poured

along the outer wall along the outer wall

to defend against

digging under the

wall and improved

guard towers were

built. The guard

towers had snipers

and soldiers in

them.

The 80’s brings some final

touches to the Wall

The 80’s brings some final

touches to the WallA car pit

was

added to

ensure

that no

one tried one tried

to bash

their

way

through

the wall.

The Countryside version of the

Wall

The Countryside version of the

Wall

Even the countryside wall had the no mans land in between two walls. It

was lit up at night and even had sensors running through the chain link to

sense pressure. They even set up automatic machine guns with

automatic triggers. You can see the tower in the distance.

A barrier between West Berlin

and East Germany

A barrier between West Berlin

and East GermanyThe fields

are in East

Germany,

but all

those

buildings buildings

are in West

Berlin.

The wall

surrounded

West

Berlin.

The wall was painted white to make people more visible against it.

This was the Eastern

Version. It is where

military personnel

could cross over into

East Berlin. The

treaty allowed free

access to all of

Berlin for military

personnel from both

sides. Searches of

Checkpoint CharlieCheckpoint Charlie

sides. Searches of

cars were very

complete when they

were returning to

West Berlin.

Things were a little less formal to enter West Berlin.

Wall Cross SectionWall Cross SectionThis is what the wall eventually

became, at least on the west Berlin side.

It was poured reinforced concrete with

the rounded section at the top. The

western side of the wall sprouted

graffiti almost over night. It was a

hated item and often had anti-wall

slogans and graffiti. Sometimes slogans and graffiti. Sometimes

however it was just a convenient

surface for any kind of protest. This is

at one of the gate entrances to the no

mans land in between the two parts of

the wall.

The walls eventual formThe walls eventual formThis graphic shows many

of the main walls

defenses: lights, patrols,

barbed wire, car barrier or

pit, and the high wall.

What it doesn’t show is

the dogs used for tracking

and sometimes attacking, and sometimes attacking,

the machine guns, the

electronic sensors, white

paint and the constant

counter espionage of the

East Berlin authorities to

thwart any plan of escape.

Thanks go to the following sites:Thanks go to the following sites:The Berlin Wall Online : Most of the pictures and history come from this

site.