Tags Current Affairs

Issue

Germany has marked three decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall.  A hint of a return of the Cold War and the rise of nationalism is dampening the mood.

 

Background

The fall of the wall that divided post-war Europe had led to hopes of a liberal democratic era and disarmament three decades ago but has not changed yet.

 

Details

• The Berlin Wall was a wall that separated the city of Berlin in Germany from 1961 to 1989.

• It separated the eastern half from the western half. Many people think it was a symbol of the Cold War. The Berlin Wall was taken down on November 9, 1989.

• After World War II ended, Germany was divided into four zones, one zone for each of the main Allied countries: France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union. 

• Its capital Berlin was also divided into four zones, so that it was an enclave, like an island inside the Soviet zone.

• On May 8, 1949, the French, United Kingdom and US zones were made into West Germany and West Berlin. The Soviet zones were made into East Germany and East Berlin.

• After Germany split into West and East Germany many East Germans left to go to West Germany. In Berlin alone, 3.6 million people fled to the west.

•  To stop this, the Communist government of East Germany built a wall separating East and West Berlin.

• In October 1989 mass demonstrations against the government in East Germany began. In November, 1989, the Central Committee of East Germany decided to make it easier for East Germans to pass through the wall.

• Less than one year after the Berlin Wall was broken down, Germany again became one country.