Checkpoint Charlie: The Cold War, The Berlin Wall, and the Most Dangerous Place On Earth, MacGregor- B -

    This is a history of the 28-years of the wall that divided  Berlin and symbolized the breach between communism  and capitalism. The motivation for the E. Germans to build the wall in 1961 was emigration to the west. The best people were leaving for freedom and financial well-being. Over a decade, 2.1 million people, a sixth of the population, "simply walked out their front doors and never returned." On the morning of Sunday, August 13, E. Germany began to seal off the city of W. Berlin from the German Democratic Republic. Soon, a 97 mile barricade encircled the city. Within a month, it was a wall. There were a handful of crossings for Berliners with permission but only one for foreigners, diplomats and members of the occupying powers - Checkpoint Charlie. Under the terms of the Four Powers Agreement, all of the occupying powers were entitled to travel through each other's sectors. Very early in the fall of 1961, the US exercised its right to travel in E. Berlin and a stand-off with Soviet tanks brought the world to the brink at Checkpoint Charlie before both sides de-escalated. Over the course of the first year of the wall, the E. Germans and Soviets shocked the world when they killed those trying to escape. As Berliners despaired of their plight, the summer of 1963 saw one of the most dramatic moments of the Cold War when President Kennedy, cheered on by virtually the entire population of W. Berlin, stood across from the Brandenburg Gate and made his famous ' Let Them Come To Berlin' speech. After his "Ich bin ein Berliner" line, he told his speechwriter that the day could never be exceeded in his lifetime. He rejuvenated NATO, inspired the Germans, and confirmed the American commitment to the city.  In 1965, the four powers and the two Germany's signed a treaty, which was the first time the US recognized E. Germany, and the all parties reconfirmed the rights of the occupying military powers. 

     In the late 1960's and into the 1970's, the focus of the Cold War moved elsewhere and Berlin reached a kind of stasis. Both sides lived their lives, and spying seemed to become the central occupation of the city. By the 1980's, a new generation  of E. Germans had grown up under the communist regime, felt little loyalty to the past, and simply wanted the better life they saw on W. German television. This was true throughout the Warsaw Pact as communism failed on every level. In the late 80's, W. Berlin featured major pop acts, such as David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd, playing near the wall. In July, 1988, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played a 4 hour set before 300,000 in E. Berlin. The concert was televised throughout E. Germany and became "the touchstone of a generation." The following year saw increased protests in Leipzig and Dresden, the end of the iron curtain in Hungary and Czechoslovakia and, in October, Gorbachev criticized Honecker while in Berlin. On the evening of Nov. 9th, a mid-level GDR functionary inadvertently and mistakenly announced that E. Germans were now free to travel, and failed to mention all of the restrictions that would continue to apply.  The story was broadcast by W. Berlin tv and within hours, thousands of Berliners were standing on and dancing on the wall. The following day East Berliners poured into the west. For all intents and purposes, the 45-year Cold War was over in a flash. By the following summer, the Berlin Wall was gone. The Soviets opted to not interfere, Checkpoint Charlie was dismantled and Germany was reunified.