The Wall

Timeline

13 August 1961

At midnight the troops of the East German Army begin to isolate the sectors of the Western Allies, France, Great Britain and the USA, by erecting barbed wire barriers along the borders to the western part of Berlin. In the period that follows, the installations are reinforced with massive walls and deeply entrenched barricades. The relevant legislation passed by the Council of Ministers of the GDR is broadcast on radio and TV.

Bewildered and stunned, Berliners on both sides see the construction of the fortifications. In the evening, the Governing Mayor, Willy Brandt, speaks before the Berlin House of Representatives:

"...Before the whole world, the Berlin Senate protests against the unlawful and inhuman measures of those who are dividing Germany, who are oppressing East Berlin and menacing West Berlin..."

24 August 1961

For the first time, a refugee is shot by members of the Volkspolizei (People's Police Force).

23 to 26 June 1963

With his words, "Ich bin ein Berliner", on his visit to Berlin, US President John F. Kennedy underlines to an enthusiastic crowd in front of Schöneberg Town Hall the solidarity of the United States of America with Berlin.

12 June 1987

During a state visit to Berlin, US President Ronald Reagan challenges Soviet Communist Party Chief Gorbachev to open up the Brandenburg Gate and to tear down the Wall.

17 July 1989

After border controls are lifted between Hungary and Austria, a flood of GDR citizens flees to Austria. In July, in Leipzig, prayers for peace begin to be held, followed by a demonstration, and this later becomes a tradition.

7 October 1989

During his visit for the celebration of the anniversary of the founding of the GDR, Gorbachev urges reform on the GDR.

4 November 1989

More than 500,000 people demonstrate in the centre of east Berlin. With their placards, they demand free elections, freedom to travel and democratic restructuring; among the 26 speakers are the writers Christa Wolf, Stefan Heym and Christoph Hein and the actress Steffi Spira.

The Fall of the Wall

9 November 1989

At a press conference to report on the meeting of the SED Central Committee, Günther Schabowski announces almost casually that applications may be made for private travel abroad and that permits will be granted at short notice. After this, several hundred east Berliners flock to the border crossing points. During the evening the crossings are opened. On this night, throughout Berlin, excited Berliners celebrate the fall of the Wall and their reunion.

10 November 1989

At a rally in front of Schöneberg Town Hall, Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Governing Mayor Walter Momper, the President of the House of Representatives, Jürgen Wohlrabe, and Willy Brandt, Governing Mayor at the time the Wall was built, speak to the Berliners. Brandt states emphatically that he was always convinced that division by means of barbed wire and death strips runs against the tide of history.

22 December 1989

In the presence of Chancellor Kohl and GDR Head of Government Modrow, the Brandenburg Gate is opened.

3 October 1990

Germany is reunited.

After the Russian troops had been farewelled on 31 August 1994, the departure of the Western Allies was celebrated at the Brandenburg Gate on 8 September 1994 with a military tattoo (Grosser Zapfenstreich).

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