Cold War: Berlin Wall
Why was the Berlin Wall built?
To keep people from fleeing East Berlin, and to separate East and West Berlin.
The Berlin wall was originally barbed wire fence, then was later rebuilt with concrete blocks?
True
What happened to Western Germany after WWII?
Was divided from Eastern Germany, and became a democratic country allied with USA, France, and Britain.
What happened to East Germany after WWII?
Was divided from Western Germany and became a communist country under Soviet Union
What are defectors?
people who fled eastern Germany and went to Western Germany
Was it easy for people to leave Eastern Germany before the wall?
yes, because Berlin was controlled by all 4 countries.
How many people defected in 1960 alone?
230,000 people
How many people escaped over the wall and how many were killed?
5000 escaped and 200 were killed
What did Eastern Germany's government call the wall?
Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart
When was the Berlin Wall built?
August 12-13, 1961
What happened to Berlin?
Berlin was controlled by all 4 countries, even though it was in Eastern Germany.
What was the country of Eastern Germany officially called?
German Democratic Republic or GDR
How many people left Eastern Germany between 1949 to 1959?
2 million people defected to Western Germany
Who was the leader of the Soviet Union at this time?
Mikhail Gorbachev
What day was Germany officially reunified into a single country?
October 3, 1990
Which USA president gave a speech in 1987 about "Tearing down the Wall"
Ronald Reagan
What announcement was made on November 9, 1989?
The Berlin wall was finished, and people could move back and forth freely again.
What did western Germans call the wall?
The Wall of Shame
Who built the Berlin Wall and when?
The communist government of East Berlin in 1961
