Berlin 1945 1990 The History of Berlin 1945

Berlin 1945 -1990

The History of Berlin: 1945 -1990 • Why should you learn about the history of Berlin? – to gain an appreciation of the German culture and people, – to better understand our own history and its relation to Germany and – because German history is fascinating! Klicke hier!

Einleitung • To navigate this presentation, you will need to use the buttons below: This button will take you back to a previous page or main topic page. Rückwärts This button will take you onto the next page or a new topic in the presentation. Vorwärts It works! This button will pop up an English translation of the word and also plays an audio recording. Click on the icon once to open the box; click on it again to close it. Click on the audio icon in the box to listen to the recording. Vorwärts

Geistesblitz • When you think of Berlin from 1945 to 1990, what comes to mind? • What to these words or phrases mean to you? • Do you recognize these famous persons? Why are they important for this time period? Vorwärts

Kapiteln • List of sections. – Timeline: Timeline This section outlines historical events in Berlin’s history from 1945 -1990. – The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall: Wall This sections discusses why the Berlin Wall wasder built and it’s Berliner: a person consequences. from Berlin – Life behind the Wall: Wall This section will talk about daily life for East and West Berliner – Glossary: Glossary This index provides English definitions of all the German words, as well as a review activity to help you practice using the words. • Click on any topic to get started! Viel Spaß und viel Glück!

Timeline • In this section you will. . . • experience German history first hand! • be guided through the years with this sidebar. • Each year features. . . • • pictures and or embedded videos. You can make the pictures larger by clicking on them. You can make them smaller by clicking Hallo! Ich heiβe again. Ampelmann! an Ampelmann. You can click on this little green man to learn Ampelmann some interesting facts about people or events during the time. • To navigate through this section. . . • click on button to go chronologically through Germany's history, or • click on any year in the sidebar to skip around Rückwärts Vorwärts

Occupation of Germany • Following WWII Germany was occupied by the Allies – the USA, Great Britain and France – and the Soviets. • Both Germany and Berlin were divided into four occupation zones (see map). • The Allies and Soviets disbanded the German military forces and dissolved the Nazi regime. Rückwärts Vorwärts

Establishment of FRG &DDR • In the four years following the war, Germany was kept as four occupied zones. The first Chancellor of Germany was Konrad • American, English and French troops eventually Adenauer, 1949 -1963. He Western founded the. Germany withdrew from Germany, allowing political party the to establish their own country: die Bundesrepublik Christian Democratic Deutschland (BRD). However, American troops The first and(CDU). only Union President was Wilhelm remained in Berlin. • Pieck, 1949 -1960. The Shortly thereafter, the Soviets firstestablished Chairman was a country Walter Ulbricht, 1960 Eastern Germany: die Deutsche Demokratiscke 1971. in Republik (DDR). Their troops remained in both Eastern Germany and Berlin. Rückwärts Vorwärts

Uprising on 17. June • On June 17 workers in the GDR were so unhappy with working conditions that they took to the streets. • The East German government in an attempt to stop the strike, sent tanks and soldiers to stop the people. This is the most famous picture from the 17. June. 1953. It shows two young men throwing stones at the tanks it an attempt to stop them. Rückwärts Vorwärts

GDR becomes a sovereign state • Up until 1955 the GDR was controlled by the USSR. • Although the East German government was in power, they really had no powers. • Before giving over power, the Soviets had established a new political party – die Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (SED) – which became the controlling power in East Germany. • There were other parties, but none were able to make This party was created from decisions or join the parliament like the SED. a merging of the KDP and Rückwärts SPD – the communist and socialist parties of the Weimar Republic. This was the most powerful party of the GDR. Vorwärts

Berlin Wall is built • To stop the mass amounts of emigration from Eastern Europe and Germany into Western Europe and Germany, the East German government built the Berlin Wall. • It was literally built overnight – on the night of August 13 and 14, the government sent out soldiers and workers to build a wall separating the two Berlins. • This wall became a symbol of repression and division throughout the world. Rückwärts Vorwärts

Confrontation at Checkpoint Charlie • When President Kennedy said “Ich bin ein Berliner” he thought he was saying, “I am a Berliner/I am from Berlin, ” but what he really said was “I am a West German and werehe upset with the turn of doughnut. ” If he had said. Americans “Ich bin Berliner” would have They been right! events. had hoped for a united Germany. • Remember, President. German John F. Kennedy asked American troops does not put the article “ein” stationed in West Berlin to gonouns. to where before a profession or any predicate For the wall was being example: bin Hamburger” “I am built, in“Ich order to ask themeans Soviets to from stop. Hamburg” but “Ich bin ein Hamburger” means “I • am. This led to a tense six-day standoff between American and a hamburger. ” Soviet tanks. Eventually, the Americans stood down and the wall was completed. President JFK at the Berlin Wall Rückwärts Vorwärts

Berlin Wall falls • On November 9, 1989 Wall finally came down. the Berlin • For the first time in almost 20 years East Berliner could finally leave th is known • November 1923: The Hallvisit Putsch byin Hilter 9 Beer as family derled Schicksalstag or Daymaking of East and theoccurs, West. thein. Nazi party a leading andimportant powerful political power in Fate Germany. Some very events have Germany. occurred on this day. was Events that changed • The GDR however, yet the notcourse of • German 1938: The Nazi party enacts Kristallnacht or Night of history. For example: dissolved. It remained for another destroying Jewish • Broken 1848: Glass, The execution of synagogues Robert Blumand after the Vienna five months. businesses throughout killing morethe than Revolts. This marked Germany the end ofand revolt against 1. 300 Jews. This marks the official and open monarchies in German states. of Jews the Third • persecution 1918: Within a fewinhours Kaiser. Reich. Wilhelm II abdicates hier! Philip • 1989: The fallthe of the Berlin. Empire Wall. is. Klicke his throne, German dissolved, Schneidemann proclaimed a Democratic Republic and Karl Liebknecht proclaimed a Socialist Republic. This events set up what was to become the Weimar Republic. • Klicke ___ hier! Rückwärts President Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate Vorwärts

German Reunification • Five months after the fall of the Berlin Wall the DDR is officially dissolved and the two Germanys are reunited. • In 2010 Germany celebrated 20 years of unification. Rückwärts Vorwärts

Timeline Assessment • Now it's time to see what you learned! Click on the link to take a short quiz. When you’ve finished, return to the main page by clicking Rückwärts • file: ///C: /Users/Nicole/Documents/My%20 Quiz/Proj ects/Berliner%20 Geschichte/quiz. html

The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall • In this section you will: – learn about events leading up to the construction of the Berlin Wall – learn about the consequences of building the Berlin Wall for Germany and German people – learn new German vocabulary related to die Berliner Mauer: the Berlin Wall Rückwärts Vorwärts

The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall • die Berliner Mauer – Facts – die Berliner Mauer was built in August 1961. die Grenze: border – It stretched for 46 km (or around 30 miles) – that’s about 1/3 of the Stadtgrenze! Stadtgrenze – Along the wall there were Wachtürme, Wachtürme die Todesstreife: der 116 Wachturm: watch barbedsquare wire 450. 000 meters (or 1. 5 tower million square feet) of Todesstreifen and 100. 000 Soldaten and Offiziere – 239 persons died while fleeing. der Soldat: soldier der Offizier: officier Vorwärts

The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall • die Berliner Mauer – Whatbauen: caused it to be to build built? – Although die Berliner Mauer wasn’t gebaut until die Bundesrepublik Deutschland: the 1961, the plans to build were lain in 1945 Federal Republic of die Deutsche Germany Demokratische in 1949 West – Remember, Germany or die Republik: the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (BRD) and East German Democratic or die Deutsche Demokratische Germany Republic Republik (DDR) had been gegründet gründen: to found, establish Vorwärts

The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall The Marshall Plan was a loan the U. S. government provided European countries to help them rebuild cities and – their Thanks to the Marshall Plan, repay their war debts. • die Berliner Mauer – What caused it to be built? business prospered in die Bundesrepublik Deutschland (BRD) – Unfortunately, business was not as successful in der Sozialist: person die Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) who is a socialist Added to that was the political oppression – to flee, everyoneflüchten: was required to be a Sozialist escape – It was so bad that between 1949 and 1961 3. 1 million people flüchteten from die DDR Vorwärts

The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall • die Berliner Mauer – What caused it to be built? der Sowjet: the Soviet – Tensions were not only high in Germany, but between the Americans and Sowjeten as well. – Some people view the eventual Bau der Berliner Mauer as part of the political conflict (i. e. the Cold War) between the USA and Soviet Russia – not between Eastern and Western Germany. Vorwärts

The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall sperren: to block off – What caused it to be built? • die Berliner Mauer • Starting in 1952 die DDR sperrt die Grenze between East and West – but the border was not closed off in Berlin. • This is created a Gesetzeslücke for Eastern Germans – they flüchteten from the East through Berlin. • Eastern German officials were afraid of a “Brain Drain” die Gesetzslücke: the • 50. 000 East Berliner were working inloophole West Berlin • The East German government did not want the West to have their workers or ideas. • East Germany tried to put a stop to this by: • 1956 – eliminating all travel to the West. • 1957 – implementing a new passport law, which restricted refugees from leaving the East. Vorwärts

The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall • die Berliner Mauer – When and how was it finally built? • By July 1961 over 207. 000 people had emigrated through Eastern Germany. • Significant lack of farmers, doctors and transportation workers; verge of economic collapse. • East Berlin had to put a stop to the mass amounts of emigration. And so, on the night between August 13 and 14 the wall was built. • Between 1961 and 1989 only 5. 000 persons left actually crossed the wall. “Niemand hate den Absicht, eine Mauer zu bauen. ” – Walter Ulbricht, 1961. Klicke hier! Vorwärts

The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall • die Berliner Mauer – What happened after it was built? • Republikflucht or fleeing from the East was considered a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment and/or fines. • Soldaten were ordered to shoot to kill; this is why 239 people died attempting to escape. • Some famous defectors include: • Condrad Schumann in 1961 • • • At age 19 he was one of the first guards on the Berlin Wall. This photo of him is one of the most famous photos of defection (see next page). Chris Gueffroy in 1989 • He was the last person to be shot and killed attempting to escape. He died only a few months before der Fall der Berliner Mauer. • He was actually the second-to-last person to die, while attempting to escape. Vorwärts

Condrad Schumann jumping over the newly built wall. East Berliner constructing what would become the Wall. Klicke hier! Chris Gueffroy, the last person to be shot and killed attempting to escape over the Wall. East Berliner stopping at a memorial for a person killed attempting to climb over the Wall. An elderly woman escaping from her window. Her building was one of the many surrounded Vorwärts by the Wall.

The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall • Do you want to learn more about the wall? Visit these sites! • http: //www. die-berliner-mauer. de/ • http: //www. berlin. de/tourismus/ • http: //www. berlinermaueronline. de/ Vorwärts

The Hows and Whys of the Berlin Wall • Follow the link to take a short vocabulary quiz. When you’ve finished return to the main page by clicking Rückwärts • file: ///C: /Users/Nicole/Documents/My%20 Qui z/Projects/Berliner%20 Wortschatz/quiz. html

Life Behind the Wall • In this section you will. . . • become familiar with what life in East and West Berlin was like and • be able to describe differences between the two. Rückwärts Vorwärts

Geistesblitz • Take a minute or two to think about the following questions. Maybe write down a few ideas that you have. • What do you think life in East Berlin was like? • How might it have differed from West Berlin? • Could it really have been so different? Vorwärts

Life Behind the Wall • Below is a list of differences between the two Berlins. Click on each one to learn a little bit more about the differences: • Politics • Food & drink • Clothing • Cars • Television • After you have read about the differences, click on Vorwärts to move on to the next activity.

Politik Ost West • This was a socialist state. • This was a democratic state. • The official party was the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (SED). • • There was no official party, instead like in modern Germany there were coalitions and majority There were elections, but parties, but no one single these were not free. They controlling party. were controlled by the SED. • There were free elections. Rückwärts

Lebensmitteln West Ost • • Food and drink produced in the west or USA were not sold in the East. • This was a free economy. • People could buy products from anywhere in the world. People only bought products from Eastern • Germany or the Soviet bloc. Rückwärts There was more variety to choose from.

Klamotten West Ost • • Because East Berliner could only purchase products from the East, there was a sort of one-size -fits-all policy. They reflected practicality and standardization. East Berlin clothes were not military related. Rückwärts • The West Berliner were more free in their choice of clothes. • They could follow fashion trends, like hippie (60 s), disco (70 s) and punk (80 s).

Autos Ost • • West Only one car was available • German cars are world Hi! My name is Ampelmann! I originally renowned for their in the East: Trabant or come from East Berlin. I was invented to help engineering and style. Trabi. children know when to use crosswalks. Aren’t I cute? part of my appeal – I was made that way • These include: Audi, BMW, People hadon. That’s to wait four purpose. After reunification of Germany, West years to get a Trabant Berliner wanted – to get rid of me, Mercedes-Benz, but I persevered! Porsche I am one ofcar. the most well-known symbols and Volkswagen. and wasn’t. Today, a very good of Berlin and can be found in souvenir shops all over the city. There’s also an Ampelfrau and roter Ampelmann. Rückwärts

Fernsehen West Ost • • • Deutscher Fernsehfunk (DFF) was the state television broadcaster. • It was used as a tool of propaganda to convince citizens of the benefits of Socialism. Broadcasts from Western Berlin were jammed. Rückwärts • National broadcasters then and now include: • ARD • ZDF • RTL • Pro. Sieben Each of these national broadcasters have local broadcasting as well. For example, NDR, Radio Bremen, etc.

Life Behind the Wall Watch the clips from Goodbye Lenin! and relate them to what you have learned. What do you notice about life in East Berlin? What changes occur after the fall of the Wall? Write down at least five differences or interesting scenes! Vorwärts

Life Behind the Wall If you were a citizen of East Berlin, what would you write on the wall? Write down a phrase or words in the text box that would describe how you would have felt. After you finish, raise your hand, so that your instructor can view it. Rückwärts

Wörterbuch • der/die Berliner: a person from Berlin • Ich bin Berliner I am from Berlin. • Ich bin ein Berliner I am a jelly doughnut. • die Berliner Mauer: the Berlin Wall • die Bundesrepublik Deutschland: the Federal Republic of Germany • die Deutsche Demokratische Republik: the German Democratic Republic • die Gesetzeslücke: the loophole • der Offizier (-e): the officer • der Soldat (-n): the soldier • der Sowjet (-en): the Soviet • der Sozialist (-en): the Socialist (person) • die Todesstreife (-n): the barbed wire • der Wachturm (-ü e): the watch tower • • bauen (baute, gebaut): to build, construct flüchten (flüchtete, geflüchtet): to flee, escape gründen (gründete, gegrüdet): to found, establish sperren (sperrte, gesperrt): to block off Rückwärts