Lecture Notes: What was the Berlin Wall and how did it fall?

Division of Berlin and Germany

Post-World War II Division:
- Germany was divided into four occupation zones managed by the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.
- Berlin, though in the Soviet zone, was also split among the four powers.
- Western sectors formed West Berlin; the Soviet sector became East Berlin.
- These divisions were confirmed at the Potsdam Conference (July 17 - August 2, 1945).

Emergence of Superpowers:
- Tensions rose between the United States and the Soviet Union by 1945.
- Ideological divisions led to the formation of superpowers.
- Germany became central to Cold War politics, highlighting East-West divisions.
Germany Split:
- In 1949, Germany split into the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
- East Germany closed its border with West Germany in 1952, but Berlin remained open.

Initial Construction:
- Rumors of border fortification in 1961 led to the creation of a wire barrier overnight on August 12-13.
- This barrier evolved into the concrete Berlin Wall encircling West Berlin.
Structure of the Wall:
- Comprised two walls with a 'death strip' in between, heavily guarded and mined.
- Armed East German guards had orders to shoot escapees.

Pressure on East Germany:
- 1989 saw political changes in Eastern Europe and unrest in Germany.
- East Germany faced pressure to relax travel restrictions.
Announcement and Fall:
- On November 9, 1989, a press conference led to the announcement of open travel, mistakenly interpreted as immediate.
- Media reports spurred masses to gather, and passport checks ceased, allowing unrestricted border crossing.
Aftermath:
- The fall weakened East Germany's government, leading to reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990.

World War II Context:
- Potsdam Conference determined post-war Europe boundaries.
Cold War Context:
- Fall of the Berlin Wall marked by significant media coverage and cultural reflection.