Antifaschistischer Schutzwall What occurred? The US, UK, France, and the USSR split up Berlin. August 13th of 1961, the German Democratic Republic Communist Government(G.D.R/East Germany) built a barbed wire and concrete wall called the Antifaschistischer Schutzwall, also called the Antifascist Bulwark between the east of Berlin and the west of Berlin. Who was involved? the US, UK, France, USSR, and obviously Berlin. Why did it happen? Until 1961 East German citizen were allowed to travel to West Berlin. Travelling to West Germany became difficult after closing the border between East and West Germany in 1952. The Wall was erected in 1961 because more than 2.6 million East Germans escaped to West Berlin or West Germany from 1949 to 1961 Where did it take place? right in the middle of berlin they built the berlin wall. When did it take place? it was built on august 13th of 1961 and was taken down November 9th of 1989. What events led up to this? Was there anything that may have prevented or precipitated this event? The events that would lead to the building of the Berlin Wall began in world war ii. Nazi Germany was originally allied with communist Russia against the Allied nations of France, Britain and the united states. But Hitler violated his treaty with Russian ruler Josef Stalin and invaded Russia, pushing the Soviets into an uneasy alliance with the other Allies. Although they were fighting on the same side in the war, the Soviets and the other Allies had very different ideologies. The soviet union was a communist nation, a system in which individual rights are subverted for the benefit of the nation. It was also a totalitarian system, which meant that the government controlled everything and there were no elections. Would a different leader have handled it differently? How? if they weren't communist, I guess. How did the US react to this event? How did other countries react to this event? Officially, with indignation and hostility. but many historians think that the U.S. secretly welcomed the Wall because it stabilized the political situation in Berlin and eastern Germany. What was the result of this event? It lasted until November 9th of 1989, when the head of the East German Communist Party announced that citizens of the G.D.R could cross the border whenever they wanted. The citizens crossed it and broke the wall down. How did life for the "average" American change as a result of this event? Again this is about Berlin not America for the love of God. |