It was a powerful symbol of the Cold War era — the Berlin Wall, which used to split the city of Berlin into East and West. It was built in 1961 and remained a physical barrier for over a quarter century, before its fall in 1989. After the Berlin Wall’s collapse, though, what happened to the Berlin Wall? What’s left of it today?
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall is fallen in 1989 was a historical one that brought an end to the Cold War and brought Germany united. People from both sides of the city who united, and began dismantling the wall immediately after the wall fell. People quickly demolished most of the wall, eager to scrub all that was physical and ideological that the wall stood for.
Pieces of the Berlin Wall
While the wall was recently destroyed at an unprecedented rate, some sections, acting as historical artifacts, survived. Today you can find parts of the Berlin Wall in many places around the world. Here are some notable places where you can see fragments of this significant structure:
1. Berlin Wall Memorial, Germany
The wall memorial Berlin Wall, right along Bernauer Strasse, explains its history in the best possible way. A 200 meter long section of the original wall, with a preserved no man’s land, is here. There, an exhibition tells the wall’s construction, the stories of people whose lives were touched by it, and the peaceful revolution that brought it down.
2. East Side Gallery, Germany
The East Side Gallery is along the banks of the Spree River in Berlin. The murals painted by artists from all around the world are located in this 1.3 kilometre long open air gallery. The other sections of the Berlin Wall have been painted with various pictures themes like freedom, unity and hope.
3. Checkpoint Charlie, Germany
Checkpoint Charlie was a border between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. A replica of original checkpoint continues to exist as a tourist attraction today. Nearby a display with a portion of the Berlin Wall shows it up close, taking visitors back to the divided city.
4. Museums and Memorials Worldwide
Pieces of the Berlin Wall are found in many museums and memorials throughout the world. They take the wall’s pieces to institutions like the Newseum in Washington, D.C. and the Imperial War Museum in London, to teach visitors about its historical importance and what it was like for those living beneath its shadow.
Conclusion
While the Berlin Wall died as a physical barrier long ago, it has left its memory. Today fragments of the wall can be found in varied locations as a reminder of the city’s troubled past, and the power of unity beating out division. With a visit to these sites and an understanding of the stories surrounding the wall, those impacted might experience a glimpse into those tough times.
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