While the world became divided by their political views on democracy and communism, Berlin had been divided by the well known Berlin Wall. This construction acted as a wedge for political opposition. Even though many wanted to obtain peace, they did not perceive it to be possible with the differences in opinion. The Berlin Wall stood as a physical symbol of the steel curtain. It was proof that these two perspectives could not coexist in the same organized space. This timeline, in particular, focuses on Berlin's division and conflict during the cold war that lasted from 1947 to 1991.
Timeline
Table of Events
| Date | Event | Created by |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 1961 to 14 Aug 1961 | East Germany closed off on August 14th, 1961East German soldiers putting up barbed wire on wooden posts in order to close off a street in preparation for building the Berlin wall. These barbed wire fences were built on November 14th, 1961, and the first concrete structures were built three days later on November 17th, 1961. Citation: Zürn, Michael. “Fall of the Berlin Wall: Globalization and the Future of Europe.” New Zealand International Review, vol. 35, no. 3, May 2010, pp. 2–7. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=50503540&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Image Citation: Keystone. East Berlin Closed Off [Photograph found in Hulton Archive]. Retrieved from https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/soldiers-of-the-east-germ… (Originally photographed 1961, August 14) |
Nick Phair |
| 23 May 1962 | The Murder of Peter GoringThis source covers the event of the murder of Peter Goring. On May 23, 1962, an East Berlin soldier (Peter Goring) was murdered as a young fourteen-year-old boy made an escape attempt to cross into West Berlin. The young boy that attempted the escape was caught leading to a shootout between the Eastern guards and Western police forces. This boy escaped with major injuries, but with the conflict that arose, Peter Goring was killed. Although this was on the East’s side of the wall, they portrayed Goring as a hero that had been assassinated by those of the West. Ahonen, Pertti. “The Berlin Wall and the Battle for Legitimacy in Divided Germany.” German Politics & Society, vol. 29, no. 2, Aug. 2011, pp. 40–56. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3167/gps.2011.290204. Roletschek, Ralf. "2010-03-20-mauer-berlin-by-RalfR-08" Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. 24 Sep 2020, 17:37 UTC. 6 Dec 2020, 15:22 <https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:2010-03-20-mauer-berlin-by-RalfR-08.jpg&oldid=469928236>. |
Brandon Krueger |
| 17 Aug 1962 | The Murder of Peter FechterThis source includes the murder of Peter Fechter on August 17, 1962. This eighteen-year-old boy was shot as he attempted to escape the confines of the wall. Authorities struggled to reach him and by the time they did, it was already too late. This happened in an open area where many people could see a boy dead in the center of Berlin, murdered for his desire for freedom. Almost immediately, the West began to use this horrible event in the attempts of pushing their political agenda to expose the brutality and violence of the East. Ahonen, Pertti. “The Berlin Wall and the Battle for Legitimacy in Divided Germany.” German Politics & Society, vol. 29, no. 2, Aug. 2011, pp. 40–56. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3167/gps.2011.290204. "Peter Fechter Passbild." Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. 24 Sep 2020, 18:01 UTC. 6 Dec 2020, 15:19 <https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:PeterFechterPassbild.jpg&oldid=469950406>. |
Brandon Krueger |
| 1980 to Jun 1989 | Polish Solidarity Movement1980 Warsaw Poland saw the beginning of the Iron Curtain weakening. The growing dissent for the ruling Soviets, caused many countries in the Soviet bloc to rebel like the Solidarity movement in 1980. This led to the first partially free elections allowed in the Soviet bloc in June 1989. Txt source: Rabel, Roberto. “The Fall of a Wall and Its Legacy.” New Zealand International Review, vol. 44, no. 6, Nov. 2019, p. 20. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=139853895&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Img source: Traynor, Kim. “Solidarity Memorial, Paris.” Wikimedia Commons, 1982, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solidarity_Memorial,_Paris.JPG. |
Kevin Vitwar |
| 23 Aug 1989 | Baltic ChainIn 1989 one of the most moving and resounding protests happened in the Baltic states. Two million Baltic citizens influenced the reunification of Germany and the dismantling of the Berlin Wall by forming a human chain almost 600km long. This was in protest of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 50th which deprived them of their national independence. This led to Baltic independence, and paved the way for German reunification. Txt Source: Rabel, Roberto. “The Fall of a Wall and Its Legacy.” New Zealand International Review, vol. 44, no. 6, Nov. 2019, p. 20. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=139853895&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Img Source: Vasauskas, L. “Baltic Way in Moteris Magazine.” Wikimedia Commons, 23 Aug. 1989, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baltic_Way_in_Moteris_magazine.jpeg. |
Kevin Vitwar |
| 11 Nov 1989 to 11 Nov 1989 | The Wall Comes Down November 11th, 1989The Berlin Wall came down on November 11th, 1989. This brought an end to the divide of a city that had lasted almost 30 years. This was a great victory for democracy and the city would now begin the process of healing from the divide that had lasted for so long. Image Citation: PIEL, P. The Berlin Wall opening in Berlin, Germany on November, 1989 [Photograph found in Gamma-Rapho]. Retrieved from https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-berlin-wall-opening-i… (Originally photographed 1989, November 11) |
Nick Phair |
