German History since 1945 Ex - WW 2 bombers bring food to blockaded Berlin 1948 The German parliament in the Reichstag, Berlin. The Potsdam Conference 1945, Germany will be divided. Die Freie Deutsche Jugend - East German youth organisation East Berlin - Trabbis & TV tower East German Ampelmännchen

East Berlin West Berlin das Brandenburger Tor die Berliner Mauer - the Wall was lower here than normal Observation tower No man’s land - ‘Death Strip’

Post War Germany After World War 2, America, Britain, France and the Soviet Union could not agree on how to govern Germany. The four countries argued over money and investment and this time of great tension between them was known as the Cold War. 3 western zones Eastern Soviet zone Berlin, also divided into 4 zones but in the centre of the Soviet zone

Two Germanies Germany became two countries in The 3 Western Zones became West Germany - the Federal Republic of Germany - die Bundesrepublik Deutschland (BRD). The Soviet Zone in the East became the East Germany - the German Democratic Republic - die Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR). West Germany was a democracy similar to the UK. East Germany was a Communist country like the Soviet Union and other ‘Eastern Bloc’ countries

From 1949, two Germanies existed side by side, with no real border between them. People could cross freely. America invested billions of dollars in West Germany and the standard of living rose. Houses were built and people began to have cars and household goods such a TVs and washing machines. Salaries were higher than in the East. In the East, the Soviet Union was still taking money from Germany, to pay for war damage. It was understandable, that hundreds of thousands of East Germans came to live in the West. East German refugees

The plan to build a wall surrounding West Berlin and to close the border between East and West Germany was top secret. In fact, Walter Ulbricht, leader of East Germany, had said on June “No one has any intention of building a wall!” The Berlin Wall

At midnight on the night of 12 th -13 August 1961, Soviet and East German commanders ordered their armies out of their barracks. Soldiers and border police stood armed with machine guns while labourers laid concrete blocks and barbed wire. Escapes were still possible, although dangerous. The Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall: a Germany divided Total length of Wall circumference surrounding West Berlin 113km Height 4m Average thickness cm 302 observation towers, 69 bunkers, 259 dog installations, 105 km of car blocking trenches, 128km electric contact/signal fencing

After Hungary opened the border to Austria in August 1989, more than 13,000 East Germans escaped within 3 days. This was the biggest escape since the wall was built. There were many protests against the East German government. Eventually a new government took over and allowed free travel again from East to West. The wall was knocked down on the 9 th of November 1989 and Germany was later officially reunited in October Summer & Autumn 1989

People climbed on the Wall here. The Brandenburg gate was behind them.

Germany reunited!

The 9 th November The 20 th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall The 3 rd October 2010 Germany celebrates its 20 th anniversary