Fall of Berlin Wall

I would like to research about the fall of the Berlin Wall because of the historical importance it serves. The Berlin Wall separated West and East Germany, which also divided democracy and Communism during the Cold War. The separation between these two landmarks led people that lived in either West or East Germany to live different lives. The West part of Germany had more freedom and was able to thrive. The East part, however, was more constrained. By the 60s, people from East Germany wanted to get out and migrate to West Germany. As a result, many of the people from East Germany fled to reside in a more promising part of the country. The communists were not happy so they decided to build the Berlin Wall. They wanted to keep everyone contained in one area, especially the people who resided in East Germany. The Berlin Wall underwent different physical transformations. The wall started off with barbed wire and concrete blocks. By the mid-70s, the Berlin Wall was converted to a sturdy wall at 12-feet and 4-feet wide.

There were signs that East Germany was falling. One evening, an East German government official said that they are going to open up the borders. Soon enough, the guards that were patrolling at the borders started to let people go to West Germany. People started chipping the walls with hammers. Eventually, bulldozers started tearing the wall down. The wall was not completely down, there is still a small portion left today. By October 1990, Germany became one country again. When the wall fell down, it basically ended the Cold War.

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall was so important to the German culture, it is important for me to understand why. Going into Germany with some awareness will help me learn more about Berlin when I am there. I will have already known how to tolerate their customs and culture. Prior knowledge will amplify my experience in Berlin because of what I already know and prepare myself to learn what I do not already know.

1. http://www.newseum.org/berlinwall/riseandfall/index.htm

2. http://uwashington.worldcat.org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/title/when-the-wall-came-down-the-berlin-wall-and-the-fall-of-soviet-communism/oclc/2830061303439&referer=brief_results

3. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2008/11/13/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-berlin-wall

4. http://uwashington.worldcat.org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/oclc/4588762657&referer=brief_results