Bernauer Strasse through the ages

The Berlin Wall

was a barrier that encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, separating it from East Berlin and the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Construction of the Berlin Wall was commenced by the government of the GDR on 13 August 1961.

The barbed wire becomes concrete

The border between East and West Berlin ran along Bernauer Strasse through the middle of a busy residential area. The houses, the Ackerstrasse leading into it and a cemetery were on East Berlin territory, while the entire street with the pavement belonged to West Berlin.

When the Wall was built, the GDR closed off Ackerstraße, walled up the residential buildings and used the cemetery wall as a border barrier. The first barriers mainly blocked paths and roads with various obstacles. Existing walls were reinforced and included in the border security.

Demolition of buildings

The barrier was methodically expanded, incorporating existing buildings when needed. A wide border strip was created starting in 1965. The residential buildings along Bernauer Strasse were partly demolished, and the remains of the facades became part of the Wall.

Starting in 1965, buildings and other visual obstacles were removed to create a continuous barren strip between the two walls. In many places, stronger concrete elements supplemented or replaced the older barriers.

Systematic extension

As the border strip around West Berlin was systematically extended, it developed common features. These included the hinterland wall, or fence, a front concrete slab wall, and a continuous guard path and control strip in the middle.

The Wall is completed

New and updated barrier and surveillance elements made escaping over the border strip increasingly unlikely. Any attempt to breach the barrier to West Berlin was thwarted by a system of watchtowers, barbed wire, metal fences, concrete walls, vehicle barriers, alarm systems, floodlights, and a dedicated telephone network.

The 3.6-meter Grenzmauer 75 dominated the appearance of the inner-city border from West Berlin. Opposite, a touch-sensitive signal fence alerted the guards in the watchtowers to escape attempts.

These graphics are from the book UNDERSTANDING THE WALL, which is available in three languages: German, English and Spanish. The French edition is in progress. You can buy the book in many bookshops in Berlin or order it online here: www.schwochow.shop