16 August,2011 08:01 AM IST | | Special Features
Last weekend, Germany marked the 50th anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall by observing a minute of silence in memory of those who died trying to cross to the West. CS tells you more about the wall that separated the city into two and divided the world:
>>u00a0The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) on August 13, 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin. The Soviet-dominated Eastern Bloc claimed that the wall was erected to protect its population from fascist elements. However, it served to prevent the massive emigration that marked Germany during the post-World War II period.
>>u00a0It was referred to as the 'Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart' by the GDR authorities, while it was called the 'Wall of Shame' by mayor Willy Brandt, while condemning the Wall's restriction on freedom of movement.
>>u00a0After several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced on November 9, 1989 that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Germans were euphoric. Over the next few weeks, the thrilled public and souvenir hunters chipped away parts of the wall.
