bucket list #5

#5 Find out what exactly happened to the Berlin Wall.

1) When and why it was constructed.

August 13, 1961 (Sunday)

It was a desperate – and effective – move by the GDR (German Democratic Republic) to stop East Berliners escaping from the Soviet-controlled East German state into the West of the city, which was then occupied by the Americans, British and French.

2) Background: A Divided Berlin

At the end of World War II, the Allied powers divided conquered Germany into four zones, each occupied by either the United States, Great Britain, France, or the Soviet Union.

The relationship between the Soviet Union and the other three Allied powers quickly disintegrated, turning Germany into West versus East, Democracy versus Communism.

This same division into West and East occurred in Berlin. Since the city of Berlin had been situated entirely within the Soviet zone of occupation, West Berlin became an island of democracy within Communist East Germany.

Within a short period of time after the war, living conditions in West Germany and East Germany became distinctly different. West Germany was set up a capitalist society and experienced such a rapid growth of their economy. With hard work, individuals living in West Germany were able to live well, buy gadgets and appliances, and to travel as they wished. East Germany, on the other hand, was under the direct influence of the Soviet Union and thus a Communist society was established. The economy dragged and individual freedoms were severely restricted.

More and more people in the Soviet-controlled East grew disillusioned with communism and the increasingly oppressive economic and political conditions, hence an increasing number began defecting to the West. By the early 1960s, East Germany was rapidly losing its population, damaging both the credibility and workforce of GDR.

Hence, the Berlin Wall was built.

3) Interesting Facts

• In a masterfully-planned operation, within 24 hours, the streets of Berlin were torn up, barricades of paving stones were erected, tanks were gathered at crucial places and subways and local railway services were interrupted. So that within a day the West of Berlin was completely sealed off from the East.
• There were three versions of the Berlin Wall. First, barbed wire. Second, concrete blocks. Third, concrete wall.
• Escape attempts still continued. Successful attempts include throwing a rope over the Wall and climbing up and digging tunnels from the basements of buildings in East Berlin, under the Berlin Wall, and into West Berlin. However, since the East German guards were allowed to shoot anyone nearing the eastern side of the Berlin Wall without warning, there was always a chance of death in any and all escape plots. It is estimated that somewhere between 100 and 200 East Germans died while attempting to cross the Berlin Wall.

4) When and why the Berlin Wall fell

Communism began to falter. Then suddenly, on the evening of November 9, 1989, an announcement made by East German government official Günter Schabowski stated, “Permanent relocations can be done through all border checkpoints between the GDR (East Germany) into the FRG (West Germany) or West Berlin.”

After the Berlin Wall came down, East and West Germany reunified into a single German state on October 3, 1990.

Sources:
http://www.berlin-life.com/berlin/wall
http://history1900s.about.com/od/coldwa1/a/berlinwall_2.htm

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freedom is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?

driver

before 1030am arrived today, i’d already clocked 50km road mileage. my siblings are exploiting my love for driving! hahaha i really became a chauffeur after all.

okay that has taken enough time. now STUDY!

too much drama

sigh.

equity

it’s appalling how many times it crosses our mind that we deserve better. we deserve better. we deserve better.

for that horrifying self-importance, i think we deserve worse. i deserve worse.