In the early hours of August 13, 1961, East German construction workers flanked by soldiers and police began tearing up streets and erecting barriers throughout the city of Berlin and its surroundings. That night marked the beginning of one of history’s most infamous dividing lines, the Berlin Wall. Construction on the wall continued for the next decade as it cut through neighborhoods, separated families, and divided not just Germany, but the world.
To understand how we got to this point, we have to go back to World War II. America, Britain, and France joined forces with the Soviet Union against the Axis Powers. After they defeated Nazi Germany, each of the victorious nations occupied part of the country. The division was meant to be temporary, but the former allies found themselves at odds over their visions for post-war Europe. While Western powers promoted liberal market economies, the Soviet Union sought to surround itself with obedient Communist nations, including a weakened Germany.
As their relations deteriorated, the Federal Republic of Germany was formed in the West while the Soviets established the German Democratic Republic in the East. The Soviet satellite countries restricted Western trade and movement, so a virtually impassable border formed. It became known as the Iron Curtain.
In the former German capital of Berlin, things were particularly complicated. Although the city lay fully within the East German territory of the GDR, the post-war agreement gave the allies joint administration. So America, Britain, and France created a Democratic enclave in Berlin’s western districts. While East Germans were officially banned from leaving the country, in Berlin, it was simply a matter of walking, or riding a subway, streetcar or bus, to the Western half, then traveling on to West Germany or beyond.
This open border posed a problem for the East German leadership. They had staked a claim to represent the Communist resistance against Hitler and portrayed Western Germany as a continuation of the Nazi regime. While the U.S. and its allies poured money into West Germany’s reconstruction, the Soviet Union extracted resources from the East as war reparations, making its planned economy even less competitive.
Life in East Germany passed under the watchful eye of the Stasi, the secret police whose wiretaps and informants monitored citizens for any hint of disloyalty.
While there was free health care and education in the East, the West boasted higher salaries, more consumer goods, and greater personal freedom. By 1961, about 3.5 million people, nearly 20% of the East German population, had left, including many young professionals. To prevent further losses, East Germany decided to close the border, and that’s where the Berlin Wall came in.
Extending for 43 kilometers through Berlin, and a further 112 through East Germany, the initial barrier consisted of barbed wire and mesh fencing. Some Berliners escaped by jumping over the wire or leaving from windows, but as the wall expanded, this became more difficult. By 1965, 106 kilometers of 3.6-meter-high concrete barricades had been added topped with a smooth pipe to prevent climbing.
Over the coming years, the barrier was strengthened with spike strips, guard dogs, and even landmines, along with 302 watchtowers and 20 bunkers. A parallel fence in the rear set off a 100-meter area called the death strip. There, all buildings were demolished and the ground covered with sand to provide a clear line of sight for the hundreds of guards ordered to shoot anyone attempting to cross.
Nevertheless, nearly 5,000 people in total managed to flee East Germany between 1961 and 1989. Some were diplomats or athletes who defected while abroad, but others were ordinary citizens who dug tunnels, swam across canals, flew hot air balloons, or even crashed a stolen tank through the wall. Yet the risk was great. Over 138 people died while attempting escape. Some shot in full view of West Germans powerless to help them. The wall stabilized East Germany’s economy by preventing its work force from leaving, but tarnished its reputation, becoming a global symbol of Communist repression.
As part of reconciliation with the East, the Basic Treaty of 1972 recognized East Germany pragmatically while West Germany retained its hope for eventual reunification. Although the Eastern regime gradually allowed family visits, it tried to discourage people from exercising these rights with an arduous bureaucratic process and high fees. Nonetheless, it was still overwhelmed by applications.
By the end of the 1980s, the liberalization of other Eastern Bloc regimes caused mass demonstrations for free travel and demands for democracy. On the evening of November 9, 1989, East Germany tried to defuse tension by making travel permits easier to obtain. But the announcement brought thousands of East Berliners to the border crossing points in the wall, forcing the surprised guards to open the gates immediately.
Rejoicing crowds poured into West Berlin as people from both sides danced atop the wall. And others began to demolish it with whatever tools they could find. Although the border guards initially tried to maintain order, it was soon clear that the years of division were at an end. After four decades, Germany was officially reunified in October 1990. And the Soviet Union fell soon after.
Today, parts of the wall still stand as a reminder that any barriers we put up to impede freedom, we can also break down.
WORD BANK:
construction worker (n): công nhân xây dựng
flank /flæŋk/ (v): bao quanh, kèm (quân sự)
soldier /ˈsəʊl.dʒər/ [B1] (n): binh lính
tear sth up (PhrV): phá hủy cái gì
erect /ɪˈrekt/ (v): xây dựng
barrier /ˈbær.i.ər/ [B2] (n): rào chắn
mark /mɑːk/ (v): đánh dấu
infamous /ˈɪn.fə.məs/ (adj): tai tiếng
join/combine forces [C2] (phrase): hợp lực
the Soviet Union /ˌsəʊ.vi.ət ˈjuː.nj.ən/ (n): Liên Xô
Axis Powers /ˈæk.sɪs paʊ.əz/ (n): Phe Trục
Nazi Germany (n): Đức Quốc xã
victorious /vɪkˈtɔː.ri.əs/ (adj): chiến thắng
occupy /ˈɒk.jə.paɪ/ [C1] (v): chiếm
temporary /ˈtem.pər.ər.i/ [B1] (adj): tạm thời
ally /ˈæl.aɪ/ [C2] (n): đồng minh
at odds (with sb/sth) (idiom): trong tình trạng mâu thuẫn với ai/cái gì
power /paʊər/ [C1] (n): cường quốc
promote /prəˈməʊt/ [B2] (v): đẩy mạnh
liberal market economy (n): nền kinh tế thị trường thị do
seek to do sth (PhrV): nỗ lực làm gì
obedient /əˈbiː.di.ənt/ (adj): nghe lời
Communist /ˈkɒm.jə.nɪst/ (adj): Cộng sản
weaken /ˈwiː.kən/ [C1] (v): yếu đi
deteriorate /dɪˈtɪə.ri.ə.reɪt/ [C1] (v): làm cho xấu đi
Federal Republic of Germany (n): Cộng hòa Liên bang Đức
establish /ɪˈstæb.lɪʃ/ [B2] (v): thành lập
German Democratic Republic (n): Cộng hòa Dân chủ Đức
satellite country (n): quốc gia vệ tinh
restrict /rɪˈstrɪkt/ [C1] (v): hạn chế
virtually /ˈvɜː.tʃu.ə.li/ [B2] (adv): gần như
impassable /ɪmˈpɑː.sə.bəl/ (adj): không thể vượt qua
Iron Curtain (n): Bức màn Sắt
complicated /ˈkɒm.plɪ.keɪ.tɪd/ [B1] (adj): phức tạp
territory /ˈter.ɪ.tər.i/ [B2] (n): lãnh thổ
agreement /əˈɡriː.mənt/ [B2] (n): thỏa thuận
joint /dʒɔɪnt/ [B2] (adj): chung
administration /ədˌmɪn.ɪˈstreɪ.ʃən/ [C2] (n): sự quản lý
enclave /ˈeŋ.kleɪv/ (n): vùng đất bị bao quanh bởi nhiều vùng đất khác
district /ˈdɪs.trɪkt/ [B1] (n): quận
pose a problem (collo): đặt ra vấn đề
the leadership /ˈliː.də.ʃɪp/ [C1] (n): giới lãnh đạo
stake a claim (to sth) (idiom): tuyên bố mình có quyền với cái gì
represent /ˌrep.rɪˈzent/ [C2] (v): đại diện
resistance /rɪˈzɪs.təns/ [C2] (n): cuộc kháng chiến
portray /pɔːˈtreɪ/ [C2] (v): miêu tả
regime /reɪˈʒiːm/ [C2] (n): chế độ
reconstruction /ˌriː.kənˈstrʌk.ʃən/ [C1] (n): sự tái thiết
extract /ɪkˈstrækt/ [B2] (v): khai thác, chiết
resource /rɪˈzɔːs/ [B2] (n): tài nguyên
reparations (n): bồi thường thiệt hại chiến tranh (vì thua trận)
planned economy /ˌplænd ɪˈkɒn.ə.mi/ (n): nền kinh tế kế hoạch
competitive /kəmˈpet.ɪ.tɪv/ [B2] (adj): cạnh tranh
watchful /ˈwɒtʃ.fəl/ (adj): cảnh giác, đề phòng
eye /aɪ/ (n): sự giám sát
wiretap/ˈwaɪə.tæp/ (n): máy nghe lén
informant /ɪnˈfɔː.mənt/ (n): người cung cấp thông tin
monitor /ˈmɒn.ɪ.tər/ [C1] (v): giám sát
boast /bəʊst/ [B2] (v): tự hào, khoe khoang
disloyalty /ˌdɪsˈlɔɪ.əl.ti/ (n): sự không trung thực
initial /ɪˈnɪʃ.əl/ [B2] (adj): ban đầu
barbed wire /ˌbɑːbd ˈwaɪər/ (n): dây thép gai
escape /ɪˈskeɪp/ [B1] (v): trốn thoát
expand /ɪkˈspænd/ [B2] (v): mở rộng
concrete /ˈkɒŋ.kriːt/ [B2] (n): bê tông
barricade /ˈbær.ɪ.keɪd/ (n): hàng rào, chướng ngại vật
spike /spaɪk/ (n): gai (dây thép)
strip /strɪp/ [C1] (n): dải (đất…)
landmine /ˈlænd.maɪn/ (n): mìn đất
watchtower /ˈwɒtʃˌtaʊər/ (n): tháp quan sát
bunker /ˈbʌŋ.kər/ (n): hầm trú ẩn
parallel /ˈpær.ə.lel/ (adj): song song
the rear /rɪər/ [C1] (n): phía sau
set sth off [C2] (PhrV): tạo ra, gây ra
demolish /dɪˈmɒl.ɪʃ/ [B2] (v): phá hủy
order /ˈɔː.dər/ [B2] (v): ra lệnh
attempt to do sth (PhrV): cố gắng làm gì
nevertheless /ˌnev.ə.ðəˈles/ [B2] (adv): dẫu vậy
manage to do sth (PhrV): thành công làm điều gì
flee /fliː/ [C1] (v): trốn chạy
diplomat /ˈdɪp.lə.mæt/ [B2] (n): nhà ngoại giao
athlete /ˈæθ.liːt/ [B1] (n): vận động viên
defect /ˈdiː.fekt/ (v): đào tẩu
ordinary /ˈɔː.dən.əri/ [B1] (adj): thường
in full view (phrase): được trông thấy bởi người khác
stabilize /ˈsteɪ.bəl.aɪz/ (v): ổn định
work force (n): lực lượng lao động
tarnish /ˈtɑː.nɪʃ/ (v): làm tổn hại
reputation /ˌrep.jəˈteɪ.ʃən/ [B2] (n): danh tiếng
repression /rɪˈpreʃ.ən/ (n): sự đàn áp
reconciliation /ˌrek.ənˌsɪl.iˈeɪ.ʃən/ (n): sự hòa giải
treaty /ˈtriː.ti/ [C2] (n): hiệp ước
recognize /ˈrek.əɡ.naɪz/ [B2] (v): công nhận
pragmatically /præɡˈmæt.ɪ.kəl.i/ (adv): thực tế
retain hope (collo): nuôi hy vọng
eventual /ɪˈven.tʃu.əl/ [C2] (adj): cuối cùng
reunification /ˌriː.juː.nɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ (n): sự thống nhất
prevent sb/sth from doing sth (PhrV): ngăn ai/cái gì làm gì
arduous /ˈɑː.dʒu.əs/ (adj): gian khổ
bureaucratic /ˌbjʊə.rəˈkræt.ɪk/ (adj): quan liêu
nonetheless /ˌnʌn.ðəˈles/ [C1] (adv): dù vậy
overwhelm /ˌəʊ.vəˈwelm/ (v): tràn ngập, quá tải
liberalization /ˌlɪb.ər.əl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ (n): sự tự do hóa
mass /mæs/ [C1] (adj): nhiều, hàng loạt
demonstration /ˌdem.ənˈstreɪ.ʃən/ [B2] (n): biểu tình
democracy /dɪˈmɒk.rə.si/ [B2] (n): nền dân chủ
defuse /ˌdiːˈfjuːz/ (v): xoa dịu
tension /ˈten.ʃən/ [B2] (n): sự căng thẳng
permit /ˈpɜː.mɪt/ [C1] (n): giấy phép
rejoicing /rɪˈdʒɔɪ.sɪŋ/ (adj): hân hoan
impede /ɪmˈpiːd/ (v): ngăn cản
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