I.

Leading up to the Berlin Wall

a. Conquered Germany divided into 4 zones
i. USA, USSR, France, Great Britain occupied these zones
b. Berlin was divided the same way
i. 1949-Democratic West Germany & Communist East Germany
1. West Berlin-Democratic, the rest=communist
c. Berlin was divided
i. Living conditions drastic difference
1. West Germany
a. Democratic countries support W. Germany
b. capitalist society set up.
c. rapid economic growth
i. economic miracle
d. hard work=live well, buy what they want, travel where they
want
2. East Germany
a. USSR viewed E. Germany as a reward
b. Soviets took factory equipment etc. and sent it to USSR
c. E. Germany becomes country
i. controlled by USSR
ii. Communist society
1. economy dragged
2. individual rights restricted
d. Citizens wanted out!
i. many moved to W. Berlin
ii. E. Germany lost population & labor force
iii. 2.5 million left by 1961
e. E. Germany desperate for citizens
i. Builds a wall to prevent citizens from crossing the
border
d. Building of the Berlin Wall
i. Midnight August 13, 1961 soldiers/construction workers passed through E.
Berlin
1. tore up streets to W. Berlin
2. dug holes for concrete posts
3. strung barbed wire across the border of E&W Berlin
ii. When people woke up they were shocked
1. families, friends, lovers separated
2. trapped on one side of the border
3. about 60,000 could no longer commute to their jobs in W. Berlin
e. The Length of the Wall