• The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961 by the communist government, to make it impossible for East Germans to leave their country.

Berlin, 1961. Berlin Wall at Zimmerstrasse. West Berliners watching over the Wall to the East.

Berlin Wall being built – separation.

Berlin. Bernauer Strasse/BrunnenstrasseView from West to East Berlin.

Berlin, Checkpoint CharlieView from West to East Berlin, 1961

Standoff between US and Soviet

tanks at Checkpoint

Charlie, 1961.

Berlin, Potsdamer Platz, 60s

Berlin, Potsdamer Platz, 60s

Brandenburg Gate photographed through the barbed wire there, from the West

Berlin, April 1963

Checkpoint CharlieBerlin, April 1963

Berlin, 1963. John F. Kennedy visiting Berlin on June 26, 1963.

JFK gave his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech.http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkberliner.html

President Kennedy says, “Ich bin ein Berliner.”

(I am a Berliner) – I support you.

Due to the Allied Air Lift, from a few years prior, and President

Kennedy’s support, West Berlin remained a vigorous and healthy

city. Berlin, unfortunately, remained divided.

In the last phase of the wall's development, the "death strip" between fence and concrete wall.

East Germans were killed if they tried to escape.

Brandenburg GateView from West Berlin to East Berlin

Berliner Mauer, Berlin 1983.

United States President Ronald Reagan delivers his famed "Tear Down This Wall" speech at the Berlin Wall in June of

1987, in which he called for Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/ronaldreaganbrandenburggate.htm

In 1989 the Berlin Wall came DOWN!!

People walking

under the Brandenburg Gate for the

first time since 1961.

Potsdamer Platz has

been restored.

They have kept a

section of the Wall.

Potsdamer Platz restored.

Potsdamer Platz

Sony Center

2007

Checkpoint Charlie today.

Checkpoint Charlie today.

Brandenburg Gate, 2007.