The Story:
The Berlin wall was made in August 13 1961; after World War II, Germany split into four zones, these zones were controlled by Great Britain, America, France and the Soviet Union. The Berlin Wall was made to separate the Soviet Union from the other three controlled zones. The wall was made up concrete blocks that were stacked up high and this made the first generation of the wall. As a year passed by the were starting to get a lot of people escaping to West Germany, as a result the raise the height of the wall. This prevented some escapes but they were still frequent. In June 26 1963, John F. Kennedy comes to visit the Berlin Wall and give a speech.
"...There are many people in the world who really don't understand, or say they don't, what is the great issue between the Free World and the Communist world. Let them come to Berlin. There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin. And there are some who say in Europe and elsewhere we can work with the Communists. Let them come to Berlin. And there are even a few who say that it's true that communism is an evil system, but it permits us to make economic progress. "Laßt sie nach Berlin kommen." Let them come to Berlin!"
- John F. Kennedy
"...There are many people in the world who really don't understand, or say they don't, what is the great issue between the Free World and the Communist world. Let them come to Berlin. There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin. And there are some who say in Europe and elsewhere we can work with the Communists. Let them come to Berlin. And there are even a few who say that it's true that communism is an evil system, but it permits us to make economic progress. "Laßt sie nach Berlin kommen." Let them come to Berlin!"
- John F. Kennedy
As time marches on they make a third generation of the wall, they changed the concrete blocks with something more able to stand against weather and people. They also decided to put a sewage pipe on top of the wall. After a couple of years of the third generation people started to graffiti the wall. They never did on the East side of the wall just the West side. Plus less and less people were escaping, they were either killed trying or severely injured.
Just in case, they wanted to make sure no one got passed the wall again, so the built the final generation of the wall. They added 302 watchtowers, vehicle trenches and the wall was now about 12 feet tall. This prevented any further escape from the Berlin Wall. Years by years pass until another United States president comes to Berlin around 1987, Ronald Regan.
"In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards... Even today, the Soviet Union cannot feed itself. The inescapable conclusion is that freedom is the victor. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
- Ronald Regan
Not long after Regan's speech, the wall has finally been open! In November 9 1989, everyone came down to witness the destruction. It was an amazing day of freedom, justice and liberty.
Just in case, they wanted to make sure no one got passed the wall again, so the built the final generation of the wall. They added 302 watchtowers, vehicle trenches and the wall was now about 12 feet tall. This prevented any further escape from the Berlin Wall. Years by years pass until another United States president comes to Berlin around 1987, Ronald Regan.
"In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards... Even today, the Soviet Union cannot feed itself. The inescapable conclusion is that freedom is the victor. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
- Ronald Regan
Not long after Regan's speech, the wall has finally been open! In November 9 1989, everyone came down to witness the destruction. It was an amazing day of freedom, justice and liberty.