Twenty-eight years. Two months. Twenty-nine days The Berlin Wall 1961-1989 Twenty-eight years. Two months. Twenty-nine days

Important Dates 1940-1945 World War II-devastating air-raids on Berlin May 1, 1945: Berlin captured by Soviet forces. Subsequently Germany surrenders to the Allies. The United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union exercise authority in the parts of Germany under their respective control.

March 1948: Soviets begin partial blockade of Berlin in attempt to keep a currency reform in West Berlin from harming their zone’s economy. June 24, 1948: All communications between West Germany blocked, including rail and waterways. Allied Powers mount the Berlin Airlift, sending food and supplies to West Berliners. May 4, 1949: Soviet blockade of Berlin ends.

1950: West Berlin creates new constitution leaving East Berlin under Soviet rule. June 1953: Economic pressures lead to a large uprising in East Berlin; Soviet tanks are brought in and army units escort entire Communist leadership into safe hiding.

Night of August 12-13, 1961: Barbed wire put up overnight in response to the exodus of over 200,000 East Germans in 1961 alone.

The Berlin Wall August 17-18, 1961: Barbed wire fence is replaced by a six foot concrete wall with wire. Guards installed at openings… the “brain drain” is curtailed.

October 27, 1961: United States and Soviet tanks face off at Checkpoint Charlie; Soviets back down.

June 26, 1963 John F. Kennedy addresses Berliners at Rudolp Wilde Platz saying “The proudest boast is “ich bin ein Berliner”. Due to a grammatical error many Germans understood him to have said “I am a berliner”, referring to a popular Berlin jelly doughnut!

September 3, 1971: Four-Power Accord signed by the four powers that conquered Nazi Germany in 1945, ensuring that road, rail and water traffic between West Germany and West Berlin move unimpeded.

December 11, 1971: two-Germany Pact signed letting eligible West Berliners cross into East Berlin. However the pact still leaves the one million East Berliners shut in.

June 14, 1972: Fidel Castro visits the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate. July 15, 1978: President Carter visits the Berlin Wall, freshly painted by East Berlin workers to cover anti-Communist graffiti, and tells a West Berlin audience that the East German government cannot paint over “the wasteland of human spirit.”

August 14, 1980: For the first time ever, 12 months have gone by without someone being killed trying to cross the Berlin Wall.

May 1989: Hungary removes barbed wire fence on Austrian border; holidaying East Germans flee!

October 1989: Soviet Prime Minister Gorbachev visits Berlin during West Germany’s 40th anniversary.

October 16, 1989: 100,000 people demonstrate in Leipzig, East Germany for political reform.

October 18, 1989: Erich Honecker, East German leader resigns and is replaced by moderate Egon Krenz.

End of October 1989: East Germans pass to West Germany through Czechoslovakia and Hungary when authorities lift restrictions on migration. Tens of thousands per day cross over to take up residence.

November 4, 1989: 500,000 demonstrate in East Berlin. November 7, 1989: East German cabinet resigns.

November 9, 1989 Berlin Wall opens to stem exodus of East Germans. Some 55,500 East Germans pass through to West Berlin in the first 24 hours!

December 2, 1989: East Germany’s Parliament amends the Constitution, eliminating the Communist Party’s monopoly on power.

Ronald Reagan “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”. June 12, 1987

The Berlin Wall Wall Length: 96 miles Height: 15 feet Total killed at the wall: 80 Total wounded: 119

Lethal Security Devices 54,000 self-firing weapons 976 watchtowers, including 263 on the Berlin Belt 855.9 miles of minefields 436 miles of electric fence, including 76.2 miles around Berlin Attack dogs patrolled the border Spiked underwater fences in the waterways flowing out of the country

Twenty-eight years. Two months. Twenty-nine days The Berlin Wall 1961-1989 Twenty-eight years. Two months. Twenty-nine days