The Beginning of The Berlin Wall
The driving factor of mass amounts of East German citizens emigration led to the East German government to build the Berlin Wall, aiming to prevent defection while also esserting control over its population, maintaing order, and perserving political stability.
I. Taking Counter Measures
The East German government began construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961 as they risked losing too much econmical, political, and social power due to the shear amount of citizens that they were losing.
East German citizens setting up the inital Berlin Wall on the border of West and East Berllin, August 18, 1961, courtesy of The Atlantic magazine.
A East German worker building a porportion of the Berlin Wall on August 1961, courtesy of LIFE Magazines.
Before the Berlin Wall started its construction, around 3.1 million East German citizens left East Berlin to West Berlin. Various reasons led so many East German citizens to defect to West Berlin such as lack of economic oppurtunities, corrupt government, and seperation from family.
A statistic that shows relocation of Berlin citizens before the Berlin Wall was built, courtesy of Statista.
West Berlin citizens showing their children to their seperated grandparents in the Eastern side, courtesty of Rare Historical Photos.
The construction of the Berlin Wall took an immense emotional toll on the families that resided in Berlin. Families abruptly seperated, leaving individuals scarred with the pain of seperation, parents were stripped of their children, grandparents were detached from their grandchildren, and couples disconnected from each other.
II. Fear, Enforcment, and Death
Fear and enforcement measures were used by the East German government to traumatize East German citizens to ensure they stay within East Germany.
A portrait of Peter Fetcher, courtsey of Chronicle of the Wall.
"The death of Peter Fechter is a grim reminder of the human cost of divisionn. It is a stain on the conscience of the world."
U.S. Ambassador Arthur Goldeberg, 1962
The most well known story of an East German escape attempt was Peter Fetcher. Fetcher was an East German citizen who attempted to escape into West Berlin on August 17, 1962 along with his colleague. However, he was unable to succussfully cross as East German guards shot him before he could climb over.
Peter Fetcher, shot by East German gurads bleeding to death after a failed attempt at escaping into West Berlin, courtesy of Chronicle of the Wall.
Stasi (State Security Service)
The Stasi acted as a secret police force for East Germany, surveilling citizens, secretley infiltrating communities, and recruiting regular citizens to spy on their friends, neighbors, and family members.
Offical Stasi logo, courtesy of DW-TV
The Stasi arresting an East German man, courtesy of LIFE Magazines
"The Stasi is the shield and sword of the Party."
- Erich Mielke, Head of the Stasi, 1957-1989
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