Why did Germany tear down the Berlin Wall?

Berlin Wall (German: Berliner Mauer；; English: The Berlin Wall, officially known as the Anti-Fascist Defense Wall, was built by the German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany for short) on its own territory in Berlin, Germany, after the Second World War, with the purpose of isolating East Germany (including East Berlin, the capital of East Germany) and the Federal Republic of Germany (Federal Germany or West Germany for short), thus blocking the exchanges between citizens of East and West Berlin. The establishment of the Berlin Wall is an important symbol of Germany's division and cold war after World War II. Built in 196 1 year, demolished in 1989, and the two virtues were restored. The establishment of the Berlin Wall is an indelible scar in German history. The greatest sorrow of this nation at that time was to split again.

In this magical land of Europe, there used to be the strongest but shortest-lived Great Wall-the Berlin Wall in Germany. The Berlin Wall, like the "38th parallel" on the Korean peninsula, was the product of World War II and was made of cement. It can be called two "sister walls" on Eurasia. The Berlin Wall was built by the East German government on the night of196 12 according to the decree passed by the Wolesi Jirga12. The purpose is to prevent East German residents, including skilled workers, from flooding into West Germany. Originally a barricade surrounded by iron thistles, it was later built into a two-meter-high concrete wall with barbed wire at the top. Set up guards at official intersections and watchtowers along the route. 1970, although the relationship between East and West Germany improved, the East German government raised the Berlin Wall to 3 meters to prevent residents from fleeing to the west. To 1980, the total length of fence, power grid and fortress is 1369 km. In addition to building a wall, the flow of people between West Berlin and East Germany is also strictly restricted. Later, according to the agreement signed by the East and West German governments [1]197165438+February 20th, the restrictions were slightly relaxed. 1989 in the second half of the year, the political situation in eastern European countries changed dramatically. Under the impact of the wave of emigration to West Germany, the GDR overthrew the Berlin Wall, which existed for 28 years and 3 months, on June 9 of the same year, and promoted the reunification of Germany.

background

The Berlin Wall was built on1961165438+1October 20th.

After World War II, Germany and Berlin were divided into four regions by the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain and France. From 65438 to 0949, the German Democratic Republic (called East Germany or Democratic Germany for short) was established in Soviet-occupied areas including East Berlin, with its capital in East Berlin, and the Federal Republic of Germany (called West Germany or Federal Germany for short) in areas occupied by the United States, Britain and France, with its capital in Bonn until the reunification of Germany and Germany. The occupation agreement between the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union ensured the air corridor between West Germany and West Berlin. West Berlin is defined as the territory of West Germany according to the laws of West Germany and the Basic Law of West Berlin. Because the territory of West Berlin is completely within the territory of East Germany, the Soviet Union forced West Berlin to give up West Berlin and forced it to cut off water and food. This brings the western countries together. Every day, many planes transport materials from West Germany to West Berlin. NATO was established in April 1949, while the Soviet Union lifted the blockade in May 1949. However, the United States, Britain and France thought that this regulation was in conflict with the status quo and delayed its implementation. Therefore, until the end of the Cold War and before the reunification of Germany, West Berlin was not the territory of West Germany. At first, Berlin citizens were free to move between districts. However, with the escalation of cold war tension, in order to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Germany, resulting in a serious shortage of East German workers, the border between East and West Berlin began to close at 1952. From 1949 to 196 1, about 2.5 million East Germans fled to West Berlin at the risk of being shot by the East German border guards.

Build a wall

The Berlin Wall was started on August 196 1 13. At first it was just barbed wire, but later it was replaced by many real walls. East Germany calls this wall an "anti-fascist defense wall", but most western countries believe that the real purpose of building this wall is to prohibit East Germans from fleeing into West Berlin.

Become a fugitive

After the completion of the Berlin Wall, some people jumped over the Berlin Wall by jumping off buildings, digging tunnels, swimming, homemade submarines and hot air balloons. A total of 5043 people managed to escape into West Berlin, 322 1 person was arrested, 239 people were killed and 260 people were injured.

1961August 5, 2005 15, the Berlin wall has been built to the last part. It has not yet become a two-meter-high concrete wall with barbed wire on the top, but only a roadblock for iron thistles. Conrad Schumann, an East German soldier aged 19, walked over a barbed fence with a helmet and a pike on his shoulder. This moment was photographed by the photographer Peter Lie Bin who was present at that time, which shocked the world. 1On August 7th, 962, 18-year-old Peter Fechter, an East German, tried to climb the fence and was shot and killed by East German soldiers. At that time, there was a western reporter present, and people on both sides saw that he was shot, but no one helped. This incident was incited for some time during the Cold War. He became the first person to be shot for trying to climb the wall.

1979 One night, a huge hot air balloon rose from the backyard of a family in East Germany. There are two families in the hanging basket under the balloon-two couples and their four children. The balloon was completely handmade by two families for several years. The fugitive maneuvered the balloon to an altitude of more than 2800 meters. After more than 20 minutes' flight, they landed safely in West Germany.

1989165438+19 October, the new government of East Germany began to plan to relax the travel restrictions for East Germans. However, because Günter Schabowski, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in East Germany, misunderstood the orders of his superiors at that time and mistakenly announced that the Berlin Wall was about to open, tens of thousands of citizens took to the streets and knocked down the Berlin Wall, which had existed for 28 years and 3 months, the whole of Germany was in a state of extreme excitement. This event is also called "the fall of the Berlin Wall", although the wall did not fall by itself, but was demolished artificially. At that time, Berliners climbed the Berlin Wall, scribbled on it and took building materials as souvenirs. 1 1 months later, Germany and Germany were finally unified, which became the climax after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The construction of the Berlin Wall began on August 3rd. At first it was just barbed wire, but later it was replaced by many real walls. East Germany called this wall an "anti-fascist defense wall", but most western countries believe that the real purpose of building this wall is to prevent East Germans from fleeing into West Berlin. There are seven border crossings in the Berlin Wall, of which 1 is reserved for allied forces, diplomats and foreign journalists.

The Berlin Wall is more than 0/55 kilometers long and about 3~4 meters high. It can be divided into:

Zero-level defense line: 302 watchtowers.

The first layer of defense: about 3.5 meters high, smooth and lightweight concrete wall, with wire fences and alarms in some places.

The second line of defense: steel refuses to horse.

The third line of defense: 2m high barbed wire.

The fourth layer of defense: audio alarm line

The fifth layer of defense: electrified barbed wire

The sixth layer of defense: there are 22 bunkers.

The seventh line of defense: cables used to guide (slide) police dogs (600 police dogs in total)

The eighth line of defense: 6~ 15 meters wide open space without turf, which can leave the footprints of fugitives and is buried with mines.

The ninth line of defense: 3~5 meters deep anti-vehicle trench.

The tenth layer of defense: 5-meter-high street lamps

Eleventh line of defense: armed guards (total14,000)

Twelfth layer defense: 2 meters high electrified barbed wire with alarm.

The thirteenth layer of defense: open space

Line 14: The second cement wall, 3.5 ~ 4.2m high and 15cm thick, can resist the impact of armored vehicles.

Line 15: Some places need to swim across spree river.