The Story of the Wall From the perspective of a person behind it

1. The Story of the WallFrom the perspective of a person behind it PSE S4 Citizenship Langholm Academy

2. Why was there a Wall in the middle of Europe? • 1945: World War II was over (8th May) and Hitler-Germany was defeated by • The Soviet Union (Russia) • The USA • Great Britain • France They decided to split Germany up between the four of them. The same happened to Berlin which was split into four sectors.

3. Four years later… • 1945 – 1949: all of Germany was split into two parts: East Germany and West Germany • East Germany was ruled by the Soviet Union • West Germany was ruled by the USA, GB and France Both parts of the country developed in a completely different way. In the East a Communist Society was built up whereas in the West Democracy was established. Two German states were founded due to this development: The GDR (German Democratic Republic) and The FRG (Federal Republic of Germany).

4. The 1950s in Germany • In East Germany workers were asked to work longer and longer hours, they did not get any more money for their work and were unable to afford any special goods (luxury goods). This situations led to a revolution in 1953 which was finished by Russian tanks. • More and more people from East Germany decided to leave and go to West Germany. • Most of them were employers with an academic background (GPs and others).

5. What the East German government decided to do • The East German government decided to stop this movement and built a solid border all around West Germany and along the River Elbe – commonly known as “The Wall”.

6. The Wall

7. 13th August 1961 – 11th November 1989 East Germans were not allowed to leave their country in Western directions. They were allowed to travel within the Eastern block but only few were able to afford this. Despite the Wall many people tried to escape to West Berlin building tunnels, crashing the checkpoint in a car or using hot air balloons and other exotic vehicles. About 100 people were shot when attempting to escape to West Berlin.

8. Life in the GDR (German Democratic Republic) • Society was ruled by one political party (SED) • Running of the State was supported by a secret police (The Stasi) • People with different opinions were observed, phones were bucked, letters opened, flats monitored etc. • There was no political opposition allowed. • Incomes were low but high enough to afford renting a flat and basic food • Waiting time for a car: 12 years • Costs for a car: 10,000 – 12,000 Mark DDR (average monthly income 700 Mark DDR)

9. Life in the GDR • No freedom of travelling • No freedom of press • No freedom of opinion • Lack of certain products • Visitors from the West had to apply for a Visa through the East German police, they paid an “entrance fee” for their visit (State needed currency)

10. 1989 – Spring till Autumn • People in East Germany were more and more dissatisfied with the situation. They expressed their opinion louder and louder. Every Monday demonstrations took place in big cities and smaller towns. • Michael Gorbatschow • Hungary Summer 1989

11. Michael Gorbatschow • The President of the Soviet Union in 1989 • Glasnost and Perestroika

12. 9th November 1989

13. German Re-unification3rd October 1990 • East and West Germany were re-united • First democratic elections held in the East after WW 2 • Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl • Took financial and political responsibility (currency had to change)

14. The East after the Re-unification The situation for a clear majority of people has improved: • Freedom to travel • Freedom of speech • Freedom of press • Democratic elections Still there are problems due to the long time when East and West were two different countries.