The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall
Chapter One - The Rise of the Berlin Wall
Imagine waking up to a giant wall in the middle of your city separating you from your friends and family. The Berlin Wall was built to stop East Berliners from escaping to West Berlin after World War Two ended in 1945. Germany was split into four zones, with the USA, France, and the United Kingdom being democratic countries, while the USSR or Soviet Union was communist. Democracies offer more freedom, with elected governments, freedom of speech, travel, and expression, but also a wealth gap. Communist governments, on the other hand, control all earnings and limit personal freedom, inspired by Karl Marx's ideas. The division of Germany and the subsequent Berlin Airlift led to tensions and the eventual building of the Berlin Wall to prevent people from leaving East Germany to the West.
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Chapter Two- Freedom in the East and West
As tensions escalated between East and West Germany, with people fleeing to the West for more freedom, the leaders of East Germany and the Soviet Union devised a secret plan to build the Berlin Wall. Nikita Khrushchev and Walter Ulbricht led the construction of the wall, despite earlier denials by Ulbricht. The wall's construction marked a significant turning point in the lives of Germans, symbolizing the division between the East and West and restricting movement between the two sides, impacting various aspects of daily life.
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Chapter Three - Escaping from East Germany
Following the construction of the Berlin Wall, attempts to escape from East Germany became more challenging and dangerous. The chapter explores the different methods individuals used to flee to the West, from early escapes to more creative and risky ways of crossing the border. The stories of escapees highlight the desperation and determination of those seeking freedom and a better life beyond the confines of the wall.
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