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The '''Berlin Wall''' was a heavily guarded police wall in [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] that separated [[Communist]] East Berlin from [[democracy|democratic]] West Berlin. It was one of the most visible symbols of the [[Iron Curtain]]. The wall was built in 1961 by the government of the [[German Democratic Republic]] (East Germany) in order to stop the tide of emigration to West Berlin. President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1987 demanded it be torn down, to the astonishment of the world.  To even greater disbelief, it was torn down in November 1989, thus ending the [[Cold War]]  and bringing freedom to East Germany and (within days) to the rest of the satellites in [[Central Europe]] which now threw off Communism.  

The '''Berlin Wall''' was a heavily guarded police wall in [[Berlin]], [[Germany]] that separated [[Communist]] East Berlin from [[democracy|democratic]] West Berlin. It was one of the most visible symbols of the [[Iron Curtain]]. The wall was built in 1961 by the government of the [[German Democratic Republic]] (East Germany) in order to stop the tide of emigration to West Berlin. President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1987 demanded it be torn down, to the astonishment of the world.  To even greater disbelief, it was torn down in November 1989, thus ending the [[Cold War]]  and bringing freedom to East Germany and (within days) to the rest of the satellites in [[Central Europe]] which now threw off Communism.  

Because of dissatisfaction with the economic and political conditions (forced collectivization of agriculture, repression of private trade, supply gaps), an increasing number of people left the GDR. From January to the beginning of August 1961, about 160,000 refugees were counted.<ref>http://userpage.chemie.fu-berlin.de/BIW/wall.html</ref>

Because of dissatisfaction with the economic and political conditions (forced collectivization of agriculture, repression of private trade, supply gaps), an increasing number of people left the GDR. From January to the beginning of August 1961, about 160,000 refugees were counted.<ref>http://userpage.chemie.fu-berlin.de/BIW/wall.html</ref> An average of seven people were jailed every day for trying to get out between 1961 and 1989.

Armed guards patrolled the eastern side of the wall. In 1962, Peter Fechter was shot while attempting to cross into West Berlin and slowly bled to death in front of a large crowd,<ref>https://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/09/1st.draft</ref> which started a riot and led to Fechter becoming a symbol of resistance against the wall. Onlookers did not attempt to aid Fichte, as they feared the communist guards might fire upon them as well.

Armed guards patrolled the eastern side of the wall. In 1962, Peter Fechter was shot while attempting to cross into West Berlin and slowly bled to death in front of a large crowd,<ref>https://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/09/1st.draft</ref> which started a riot and led to Fechter becoming a symbol of resistance against the wall. Onlookers did not attempt to aid Fichte, as they feared the communist guards might fire upon them as well.

==Escapees==

==Escapees==

[[Image:BerlinWall.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Fechter lies dying, a symbol of the price many East Germans paid for their hopes for freedom]]

[[Image:BerlinWall.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Fechter lies dying, a symbol of the price many East Germans paid for their hopes for freedom]]

East Germany jailed more than 75,000 people who tried to flee to the West across the Wall, and 809 died in escape attempts. Of those who died, 250 were killed at the Berlin Wall itself; 370 died on the border between East and West Germany; and 189 had been trying to get out via the [[Baltic Sea]]. An average of seven people were jailed every day for trying to get out between 1961 and 1989. Many thousands of East German border guards ('''''Grenztruppen''''', known colloquially as "Grenzers") also tried to escape, and around 2,500 successfully made it to the West. However, 5,500 were captured in the attempt and received an average jail sentence of five years, compared to civilians who were imprisoned for an average of one or two years.<ref>''Scale of East German exodus revealed'' [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1477570.stm BBC News] 7 August 2001. Accessed 30 January 2008</ref>  

East Germany jailed more than 75,000 people who tried to flee to the West across the Wall, and 809 died in escape attempts. Of those who died, 250 were killed at the Berlin Wall itself; 370 died on the border between East and West Germany; and 189 had been trying to get out via the [[Baltic Sea]]. Many thousands of East German border guards ('''''Grenztruppen''''', known colloquially as "Grenzers") also tried to escape, and around 2,500 successfully made it to the West. However, 5,500 were captured in the attempt and received an average jail sentence of five years, compared to civilians who were imprisoned for an average of one or two years.<ref>''Scale of East German exodus revealed'' [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1477570.stm BBC News] 7 August 2001. Accessed 30 January 2008</ref>  

Historians researching the files of the [[Stasi]] found that in 1961 the secret police devoted virtually all of their resources and their 50,000 staff solely to stopping people leaving the country. Anyone thought likely to flee was forcibly moved away from border areas. Other people were encouraged to spy on their friends, neighbours and colleagues and inform on them if they were considering an escape.<ref>''Scale of East German exodus revealed'' op cit</ref>

Historians researching the files of the [[Stasi]] found that in 1961 the secret police devoted virtually all of their resources and their 50,000 staff solely to stopping people leaving the country. Anyone thought likely to flee was forcibly moved away from border areas. Other people were encouraged to spy on their friends, neighbours and colleagues and inform on them if they were considering an escape.<ref>''Scale of East German exodus revealed'' op cit</ref>