The Berlin Wall.

Historical Importance of the Berlin Wall:
The Berlin Wall was the physical division between West Berlin and East Germany. However, it was also the symbolic boundary between democracy and Communism during the Cold War.

Dates:
August 13, 1961 -- November 9, 1989

Also Known As:
Berliner Mauer (in German)

Overview of the Berlin Wall:
The Berlin Wall was erected in the dead of night and for 28 years kept East Germans from fleeing to the West. Its destruction, which was nearly as instantaneous as its creation, was celebrated around the world.

West Germany, late 1950s.

With the help and support of its occupying powers, West Germany set up a capitalist society and experienced such a rapid growth of their economy that it became known as the “economic miracle”. With hard work, individuals living in West Germany were able to live well, buy gadgets and appliances, and to travel as they wished. Jane was here, waiting for Mike's arrival.

East Germany, late 1950s.

It was nearly the opposite for Mike. Since the Soviet Union had viewed their zone as a spoil of war, the Soviets pilfered factory equipment and other valuable assets from their zone and shipped them back to the Soviet Union. When East Germany became its own country, it was under the direct influence of the Soviet Union and thus a Communist society was established. The economy dragged and individual freedoms were severely restricted.

They could only meet each other every fortnight because both of them were living at the different side of Germany. They were grateful for each meeting, at the same time living in fear, the fear of being apart from each other. The only thing they could do was to cherish the little time they had together.

Soon, many people living in East Germany wanted out. No longer able to stand the repressive living conditions of East Germany, they would pack up their bags and head to West Berlin. Although some of them would be stopped on their way, hundreds and thousands of others made it across the border. Once across, these refugees were housed in warehouses and then flown to West Germany. Many of those who escaped were young, trained professionals. By the early 1960s, East Germany was rapidly losing both its labor force and its population.

12th August 1961

“Let’s do it.” said Mike to his friends - Peter, William and Harris. Finally, after a long discussion, Mike decided to leave here and start a new life with Jane. It was hard for him to make this decision as he cannot bear to leave his life since young here. But he could no longer stand it anymore, no freedom, and being separated with his loved ones. “ Tomorrow morning, we shall leave this place.”

He didn't know that his biggest nightmare was coming true. Having already lost 2.5 million people, the East Germany desperately needed to stop this mass emigration. The obvious leak was the easy access East Germans had to West Berlin. Desperate to keep its citizens, East Germany decided to build a wall to prevent them from crossing the border. The midnight just before the date of escape for Mike(August 12th -13th), trucks with soldiers and construction workers rumbled through East Berlin. While most Berliners were sleeping, these crews began tearing up streets that entered into West Berlin, dug holes to put up concrete posts, and strung barbed wire all across the border between East and West Berlin. Telephone wires between East and West Berlin were also cut.

No longer could East Berliners cross the border. No longer could the approximately 60,000 commuters head to West Berlin for well-paying jobs. No longer could families, friends, and lovers cross the border to meet their loved ones. Whichever side of the border one went to sleep on during the night of August 12, they were stuck on that side for decades.

13th August 1961

Mike and his friends had the shocked of their life when they woke up that morning. After he slowly realized this horrifying truth, Mike quickly ran to the place where he first planned to meet Jane. Many people were standing by the wall, searching their families, children and loved ones. It was the saddest scene Mike ever saw. “Jane, Jane!” shouted Mike along the Berlin Wall as he couldn't find Jane. But as last, he found her. Tears were all over Jane’s face. “Mike, I am here!” her hand was desperately waving towards to Mike, grabbing his attention. They were only one wall apart from each other, but their distance was far away.

“Wait for me Jane. I promise you that I will find my way and get through this wall. Wait for me.”

“Please be safe no matter what. I will always be here waiting for you.”

The journey of Mike’s escape has started since that day. Some Berliners threw a rope over the Wall and climbed up. Others rammed a truck or bus into the Wall and making a run for it. Their attempts were successful. But for some who weren't that lucky, their escaped became suicidal. Mike waited patiently for his turn, he didn't want to act rashly. He must plan well for the sake of his life, and for the girl he loved, Jane. There must be a best way to escape.

But day by day, the wall grows taller, broader, and more deadly – with watchtowers, electrified fences, alarm wires, dogs and armed guards ready to shoot at anyone who touches the Berlin Wall. The escape attempts were more complex.

17th August 1962

Four of them gathered by the Wall. Peter and William couldn't wait anymore. “We've already waited for a year. Isn't that long enough? The more we wait, the lesser the chance to escape!” said Peter. Without hesitating, they ran towards the Wall with the intention on scaling it. Mike tried to stop them but failed. Guards were by the Wall, they could easily lose their lives! “Boom!” A loud sound of gunshot was heard. Mike quickly opened his eyes to see what was happening. William managed to reach the Wall and successfully scaled it. But Peter, he was not so lucky. As he was about to scale the wall, a border guard opened fire.

“Peter!! Don’t risk your life! Come back!!”

But he didn’t.

He continued to climb the Wall, but ran out of energy just as he reached the top. He then tumbled back onto the East German side of the Wall. To the shock of the world, Peter was just left there. The East German guards did not shoot him again nor did they go to his aid. Peter shouted in agony for nearly an hour. He was bled to death. The East German guards carried off his body. He became the 50th person to die at the Berlin Wall and a symbol of the struggle for freedom.

This incident had become a lesson for Mike and Harris. They couldn’t afford to risk their lives anymore. Although people died during escape, but the Berliners didn’t give up their chance to escape for freedom. Some people hid in car trunks, hijacked a subway train, swing over the Wall hanging from a makeshift pulley, and even fly across the border in a home-made hot air balloon.

“Let’s try the Checkpoint Charlie.” said Mike to Harris. It was the main access point for Allied personnel and Westerners to cross the border. Many people were begging the guards to let them cross over the border. Of course they only had a very low chance to cross through that checkpoint, it was nearly impossible. Suddenly, Mike with his sharp eyes felt something was amiss somewhere near from the checkpoint. He saw a guard moving suspiciously, was he trying to escape too?.

“Harris, finally here come’s our chance.” said Mike.

Mike and Harris quickly ran towards the guard and caught him. They brought him away from the crowd. The guard was scared to death, seems like he was quite a timid person.

“What were you trying to do?” asked Mike.

“I want to escape from here too! I cannot stand this place anymore!” said the Guard who was trembling while answering the questions. His name was Jack.

“I was forced to become a guard of the Berlin Wall. I hated here. There was no freedom at all, even for us. I see people died from escaping every day, it was such a tragedy. I couldn't take it anymore.” Jack calmed down after a few minutes.

“Great! Let’s escape from here together!” said Harris. “You can help us.”

“Alright. Since I am already caught by both of you, I will help you two to escape. I needed helping hands too.” said Jack.

“So what’s your plan?” asked Mike.

“I am currently building a tunnel. It’s located at one of the basement of the building in East Berlin. With the help of both of you, the tunnel can be completed faster. It is our only hope.”

And so they started their work in building the tunnel. It was a tough time for them. There were times where Mike felt like giving up, it seems like digging a tunnel takes forever. They have already lost track of the time. Jane’s photo and their promise to each other was his motivation. Harris and Jack also gave each other encouragement too, three of them worked all day long at the tunnel, looking forward to the day of freedom.

22th March 1962

Finally after seven months, the tunnel was done. When the first time they saw the sunlight, their eyes could barely open. “We made it!!” they cheered happily and hugged each other for their success.

On the other hand, Jane was always there, waiting for Mike almost every day at the usual spot they met. She prayed for Mike’s safety, and every time she heard the sound of gun shooting and the news of people died during escape, her heart stopped for a second. She cried, she was worried. But of course, she kept her promise. She was waiting for Mike, and there was the place where Mike saw her.

After separating from each other for 4 years, they were reunited.

9th November 1989

On the evening, a sudden announcement was made by East German government official that the borders were open after 27 years. People from East German approached the border and indeed found that the border guards were letting people cross. Very quickly, the Berlin Wall was full with people from both sides. Some began chipping at the Berlin Wall with hammers and chisels. There was a huge celebration along the Berlin Wall, with people hugging, kissing, singing, cheering, and crying.

There stood Mike and Jane by the Berlin Wall, the Wall that separated them for years. Now both of them were married with two kids. Harris, Jack and William eventually found well-paid jobs and led a new life in the West Germany. They live happily ever after, with their story of the Berlin Wall forever etched in their hearts.

THE END

Reference List:
1. http://history1900s.about.com/od/coldwa1/a/berlinwall.htm
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall
3. http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/passionateeyeshowcase/2009/berlinwall