But when you are thinking Berlin Wall, you really have to ask yourself if there was ever an easy solution. Could one just bypass the area and move around it while avoiding the oversecured check points? Now it’s time to answer this question and find out more about it in practice.
The Purpose and Construction of the Berlin Wall
Better known as the Wall of Shame, the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961 by governemnt of the German Democratic Republic in order to stem the tide of East Germans’ exodus to West Germany. It was enclosed by the means of fencing with concrete walls, barb wire fences and watch towers. The Wall had gun men who defended the area and would shoot anyone trying to cross the Wall or run away from the facility.
In relation to this it is crucial to know that the BWS purpose was not only to divide the residents of East and West Berlin but also to limit their locomotion. Therefore, it was not very convenient going around the wall in one way or the other.
Physical Obstacles of the Berlin Wall
The construction of the Wall made it very hard for anyone who would be trapped in it to escape the GDR. The first was a simple concrete wall; the second had several walls and a ‘death strip’ in between. This death strip consisted of trenches, floodlights, and anti-vehicular obstacles, thus rendering it very nearly impossible not to cross.
Though some brave souls tried to scale over the Wall or tried to burrow under it going round the Wall would have been virtually impossible because there were so many physical barriers around it.
The Security Measures of the Berlin Wall
However, other barriers embraced the physical barriers with high armed soldiers and sophisticated security devices such as alarms. These measures were intended for identification and countering of the attempts to enter the Wall area illicitly.
Over the years, border guards adopted different measures that would facilitate surveillance and control over the Wall. These were guard dogs, trip wires, signal fences and signal nets. These measures, compounded each other making it nearly impossible to pull off a stunt, walk past the wall without been noticed or confronted.
Consequences of Attempting to Go Around the Berlin Wall
If somebody had attempted to roll around or crawled under the Berlin Wall they would have been in a lot of trouble. Execution of this plan had every border guard specifically instructed to shoot anybody who tried to flee, be it through a windows, a door or any other means. This policy brought about a lot of premature passage away with liberty seekers.
It is, however, important to highlight the fact that there was always a couple of people who successfully evaded the traps of the Wall by sheer cunning and or out-right luck. Some built tunnels while others used horrible hot air balloons; others crossed the River Spree via swimming. These escapes were actually the opposite of the norm and they could only be made with a lot of planning, risk and outright luck.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall continued being the representation of separation and power control for nearly a third of a century. Though the general public and political landscape changed, the Wall came down on November the 9th of 1989. This event was the reunification of Germany and proved the end of the cold war throughout the world.
In Conclusion
It was far from going around the Berlin Wall even though this idea might have seemed much better. The Wall indeed had been built strategically and strengthened much to avoid any attempt of escape. The cost of trying to go around the Wall and avoid its tedious and lengthy process was far too steep for most to stomach. Finally, the citizens, and the changes in global relations were able to power down this beam, a symbol of the segregation.
Let’s not forget the message of Berlin Wall and freedom, liberty & working together as a society to break barriers.
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