The Berlin Wall

Why were East and West Germany split?

• World War II: between 1939 – 1945 Germany was at war with Britain, Russia, the United States and other countries.

• In May of 1945 Germany surrendered to Russia and the United States.

Why were East and West Germany split?• Russia and the

United States agreed to split Germany– The United States

gained control of the western half of Germany

– Russia gained control of the eastern half of Germany

Berlin

• The city of Berlin was split between Russia and the United States as well even though it was located in East Germany– United States took

West Berlin– Russia took East

Berlin

So what is the difference?

• United States is a Republic and practices Capitalism– Republic: a government in which supreme

power belongs to the citizens through their right to vote

– Capitalism: economic system in which companies and businesses are owned by people not by the government.• The government does not usually mess with

businesses and companies

• West Berlin and West Germany were also a republic and practiced capitalism

So what is the difference?

• Russia was a Communist country– Communism: an economic and government

system in which the government controls businesses and companies• The goal of this type of government is to make

everyone equal

• East Berlin and East Germany were also Communist

The Berlin Wall

• August 13, 1961: East German troops began to close the boarder between East and West Berlin in the middle of the night.

• August 15, 1961: the fist concrete blocks were used to keep people from escaping from East Germany to West Germany

Berlin Wall Being Built

Berlin Wall

• 171 people were killed or died attempting to escape from East Germany to West Germany at the Berlin Wall between August 13, 1961 and November 9, 1989.

Escaping from East Berlin

• People from East Berlin would try to tunnel beneath the Wall to West Berlin

Escaping from East Berlin

• One family even flew a hot air balloon over the Wall

http://www.berlinwall.itgo.com/fly.htm

Berlin and Germany Reunited• On October 3, 1990 Berlin and

Germany were reunited