By East German authorities, the Berlin Wall is said to be "Anti-Fascist Protection Fortress" (German: Antifaschistischer Schutzwall), which states that the West German state has not fully is de-nazifikasi. City West German government sometimes says the Berlin Wall as the "Wall of Shame" initiated by Mayor-called Willy Brandt-to condemn this wall because it restricts freedom of movement. Along with the Inter-German Boundary Wall separating East and West Germany, both the parapet has become a symbol of the "Iron Curtain" that separated Western Europe with Eastern Bloc during the Cold War.
Prior to the construction of this wall, there are about 3.5 million East German citizens who migrate and defected to the west, one with a pass East German border and West Germany, and then they can go to other Western European countries. Between 1961 and 1989, these walls also prevent it. In the span of approximately 30 years, there are about 5,000 people who tried to escape, with estimates there are 100 to 200 people who died were shot.
In 1989, there were radical political changes in the Eastern Bloc, which is related to the liberalization of the system of authority in the Eastern Bloc and also began to decrease the influence of the Soviet Union in countries such as Poland and Hungary. After several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced November 9, 1989 that the people of East Germany should go to West Germany and West Berlin. Then, crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed over the wall even then, followed by West Germans on the other hand to celebrate the atmosphere of freedom. Several weeks later, the euphoria of public and souvenir hunters finally cracked parts of the wall. Later, most of the wall was destroyed by the government using heavy equipment. The Fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way formation of German reunification, October 3, 1990.
Background.
German post-World War II.
After the end of World War II in Europe, were left out of the western part of Oder-Neisse line was divided into four occupied (due to the Potsdam Agreement), each area was controlled by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. The capital city of Berlin, as the control center, also divided into 4 regions even though the city itself is located deep inside the Soviet power.For approximately two years, no political changes in the Soviet and other allied members. This happens because the Soviets refused to agree to the plan reconstruction of post-war Germany. Britain, France, USA, and the Benelux countries then meet to merge regions into a single non-Soviet region to be reconstructed and approved the expansion of the Marshall Plan.
Eastern Bloc and the Berlin Blockade.
After the end of World War II, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin headed a combination of several countries that are members of the Eastern Bloc, among others, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia, including the German area of occupation. In early 1945, Stalin revealed the German communist leader to rid England of his work is the zone, plus the United States will withdraw its troops within one or two years, so then later there is no obstacle to the establishment of a united German communist state.The main task for running communist party in the Soviet region is running the Soviet command to the administrative authorities, which later results will be seen from the policies issued by the region. Thus, industries and many properties in East Germany were soon nationalized. Contrasting political process going on in the region of West Germany ruled by Britain, France, and the United States, where the president and prime minister elected by parliament. If the statement or the end of the reported decision not fit properly, then the people who run this mission could be imprisoned, tortured, and even killed.
In 1948, in the absence of agreement on the reconstruction of the new currency and Germany, Stalin argued Blockade of Berlin to prevent the entry of food, materials, and various other necessities to West Berlin. United States, Britain, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries soon send food aid and other supplies to Berlin, called "Freight Berlin". Soviet and then spread its contents public campaign criticizing western policy. Communists also tried to undermine the elections in 1948, but eventually they suffered defeat, coupled with the 300,000 residents of West Berlin who protest that international assistance to them not inhibited. Month of May 1949, Stalin finally opened the blockade and allow the transport of goods and other necessities to West Berlin.
German Democratic Republic (East Germany) declared on October 7, 1949.
With the ladder secret pact, Soviet Foreign Minister approve the administrative authorities of East Germany, but not autonomy. The Soviet Union itself remains fully penetrate and control the military, secret police, administrative and East Germany.
East Germany different from West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany), which evolved into a capitalist country with Western culture with social market economic system ("soziale Marktwirtschaft" in German) with a democratic parliamentary government. Remarkable economic growth in the 1950s gave rise to the "economic miracle" ("Wirtschaftswunder"). With the West German economy continues to grow and the standard of living is getting better, many East German citizens who want to move to West Germany.
Wall construction.
This wall was established on August 13, 1961 by the communist East German government under the leadership of Walter Ulbricht as Berlin West is a 'hole' in their country. Between 1949 and 1961 more than 2 million East Germans escape through Berlin. This makes the East German economy into oversize, because most people who are young who escaped. Then secretly and suddenly the wall was built.The Berlin Wall and the Cold War.
The Berlin Wall is locked West Berlin and the city cut exactly in the middle, has become a symbol of the Cold War's most famous. Many magnifying the west, especially the US president's visit to condemn the wall. President JF Kennedy in 1963 to come and speak at the side of this wall with the famous sentence: "Ich bin ein Berliner." Then 20 years later, in 1983 president Ronald Reagan gave a speech here and condemned what he called the Soviet Union an Evil Empire, or an evil empire. But in 1989, on the anniversary of the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev also had visited the Berlin Wall and said the East German leader Erich Honecker that "whoever comes late, will be punished by life".An escape through the Berlin Wall.
During the Berlin Wall stood, there are about 5,000 people who managed to escape. The number of people who died as a result of trying to escape, is still being debated. According to Alexandra Hildebrandt, Director of the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, the estimated number of people killed were more than 200 people. A historic group at the Center for Contemporary Historical Research (ZZF) in Potsdam confirmed that there are 136 the number of people killed. Earlier, the official record is 98 people killed.The collapse of the Berlin Wall.
After allowing loopholes for residents to cross the border in the summer, Hungary finally effectively removes the physical barrier country with Austria on 19 August 1989. In September, more than 13,000 East Germans fled to Austria via Hungary. This causes some series of events next. The Hungarian prevent a growing number of East Germans who crossed the border, and return them to Budapest. East German people's meets West German embassy and refused to return to East Germany. East German government responded by closing all the way to Hungary, but still allow those who want to return to East Germany. On this occasion, the East German authorities to allow them to go, just as long as they use later trains pass through East Germany.Then came the massive demonstrations in East Germany alone. (See the Monday Demonstrations in East Germany.) East German leader, Erich Honecker, resigned on October 18, 1989 and was replaced by Egon Krenz a few days later. Honecker had predicted that the walls were still will last up to 50 or 100 years from now, if the condition of the country has not changed.
Protest demonstrations broke out across East Germany in September 1989. At first, the protesters wanted to go westward, chanting "Wir wollen raus!" ("We want to go!"). But then the protesters began shouting "Wir bleiben hier" ("We will stay here!"). So, this is the beginning of what is called the East Germans as the "Peaceful Revolution" in late 1989. Protesters greater in early November.
The protesters peaked on November 4, when nearly half a million people gathered at Alexanderplatz demonstration.
Meanwhile, the refugees who left East Germany to West Germany is increasing, and they found a new way to get out of East Germany, that is the way through Hungary via Czechoslovakia (or via the West German Embassy in Prague) as permitted by the new Krenz government, and with approval by the communist government of Czechoslovakia. So that the state is not more complicated, eventually politburo led by Krenz allow refugees to exit directly through the border between East Germany and West Germany, including West Berlin on November 9, 1989.
Destruction.
Seen a crane destroy one part of the Berlin Wall near the Brandenburg Gate dated December 21, 1989Date when the wall were chipped away is 9 November 1989, but at that moment the wall is not directly destroyed on the spot. In the afternoon and a few weeks later, people came carrying a sledgehammer and the like to destroy some walls and also create some holes unofficial border. These people are referred to as "Mauerspechte" (wall woodpeckers).
Back East German regime announced that it will open 10 new border crossings, including at several historic sites such as Potsdamer Platz, Glienicker Brücke, and Bernauer Straße. The mass of the two sides wait for hours, cheering when the bulldozers destroy this wall. New border crossings continued to be opened throughout 1990, including at the Brandenburg Gate dated December 22, 1989.
West German population have a look at the border with East Germany in a hollow wall accompanied by a supervisor from East Germany.
Residents of West Germany and West Berlin East Germany allowed entry without a visa from 23 December 1989. Until that date, they are only allowed in with various requirements and are required to make an application for a visa. In addition, they are required to pay a minimum of 25 DM per day. So, in fact on November 9 and December 23, the East German population is more free than West Germany.
Almost all parts of this wall has been torn down. Photos in December 1990.
Coverage on television about the many people who destroyed many parts of the wall on 9 November make many people abroad think that this wall will be destroyed as soon as possible. Actually, this wall remained unattended until a few days later, although the intensity of the smaller guard. In the first month, the East German military even tried to repair the wall that was destroyed by the "wall woodpeckers". Then, over time, this action was stopped, and the guards increasingly tolerant to the action of the destruction of the wall and it goes through the wall of the hole population. Dated January 13, 1990, this wall was destroyed by a military official of East Germany, began in Bernauer Straße. The back wall destruction continued after German reunification until finally completed in November 1991. Only a few parts of the walls and towers were maintained, as a memorial.
Fatalities Recently the Berlin Wall.
Dated February 5, 1989, a resident of East Berlin attempted to flee to the west by crossing the wall. He died, victims of the Berlin Wall is torn down last November, that year.A fatal error is misleading Chris Gueffroy to try to flee to the west, in February 1989. A soldier who befriended him say, shoot on sight orders for waders wall revoked.
Chris is 20 years old, was imprisoned in the Democratic Republic of East Germany, DDR. And when threatened with compulsory military service, he and a friend decided to cross the wall.
Dated February 5, 1989, at night, they hid in a small garden, just on the border between West and East Berlin. Without the tools, they tried to climb over the wall and berbunyilah siren alarm.
Eyewitnesses said they heard at least 10 shots and saw a man being transported by the vehicle.
Chris Gueffroy killed on the spot in a matter of minutes, while his friend critically injured and taken to jail. The ranks of leadership in East Germany tried to cover up the death of Gueffroy.
In a letter to the supreme leader DDR, Erich Honnecker, Minister of State Security, better known as the Stasi, Erich Mielke, then explained that he take action to prevent loss to the DDR. Including restricting reporting on the victim's family.
Two days after the shooting Gueffroy family then received notification that their son had died. He was killed when attacking military barricades, according to the brief given by the Stasi.
However, Gueffroy family lived near the wall and also hear the sound of gunfire in the fateful night. Two weeks later the family of condolence advertisements in the newspaper "Berliner Zeitung". The word chosen was an accident, according to the rules specified language. The funeral was attended by many Western journalists.
Later that night, the West Berlin broadcaster RIAS radio station proclaim, "The formulation is not clear about the tragic way Chris closed eyes forever, repeated many times in the speech delivered professional speakers, this afternoon. More about the official cause of death, not sound. The agents Stasi spread in the cemetery. Several civilians were even present at the funeral ceremony at the funeral hall. "
Chris Gueffroy is the latest casualty of the Berlin Wall. Nine months later the Berlin Wall fell.
In the early 90s, the soldiers who shot Chris Gueffroy, was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. Then, in 1997, the politburo DDR should shoot on sight orders to account for those who cross the wall. Substitute Honecker, Egon Krenz was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison.
Karin, mother Chris Gueffroys look at the whole process of the court. He said, "Do not tell me satisfaction, we did not feel that way. But this is what we always dreamed about, namely justice, which so far we did not get."
The location, where Chris Gueffroy tried to climb the wall, now passed pedestrians and cyclists. While the pieces were moved to a garden wall, as a memorial to commemorate the last young child who was shot in the Berlin Wall.
Berlin city senate stipulated the establishment of the monument in June 2003, on the 35th anniversary of Chris Thank you for reading this article.
Written and posted by Bambang Sunarno. sunarnobambang86@gmail.com
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name: Bambang Sunarno.
http://primadonablog.blogspot.com/2015/08/berlin.html
DatePublished: August 15, 2015 at 11:32
Tag : Berlin.
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