Facts about the Berlin Wall

Facts about the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer) was a wall constructed by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) August 13, 1961 to cut off West Berlin from East Germany and from East Berlin. Guard towers were placed along the wall to stop the East Germans escaping from their own country, but it was officially claimed that the wall was erected to protect East Germany from West Germany.

facts about the berlin wall

The truth was, that many lost their lives (at least 136 people between 1961-1989) and got shot dead while trying to escape from East Germany and the communist Eastern Bloc to West Germany.

facts about the berlin wall

Nobody had the silly idea to "escape" from the free West Germany to East Germany.

Around 40.000 people were able to escape in different ways and ten thousands were arrested before they even reached the Wall. From 1961 to 1988 there were around 110.000 court cases because of „illegal border crossing“. (der Spiegel)

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