The Berlin Wall was a guarded concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Built by the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, it completely encircled West Berlin, separating it from East Germany and East Berlin. The wall stood as a stark symbol of the Cold War, and its primary purpose was to prevent the exodus from East to West, reflecting the stark ideological divide between communism and democracy.
The Wall extended over 155 kilometers, was approximately 3.6 meters high, and included watchtowers, guard dog runs, anti-vehicle trenches, and other fortifications. It was the backdrop of many significant events in contemporary history, such as the infamous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War and was celebrated worldwide. Today, remnants of the Wall have been preserved as historical monuments, including the East Side Gallery, where a 1.3 kilometer section of the Wall has been converted into an international memorial for freedom, featuring over a hundred paintings from artists all over the world. The Berlin Wall remains an integral part of the city’s identity and its historical consciousness.
Official website (Berlin Wall Memorial):
https://www.stiftung-berliner-mauer.de/en/
Google map of the remains of the Berlin Wall 4.7/5
Google map East Side Gallery 4.6/5
Google map The Wall Museum 4.2/5