Define the Following Terms: the Berlin Wall

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The Answer is The Berlin Wall was a fortified barrier that divided the city of Berlin, Germany, from 1961 to 1989. It was constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) starting on August 13, 1961, and was intended to prevent East Germans from defecting to the West. The wall physically and ideologically separated the communist East from the democratic West Berlin, which was located entirely within East German territory.

The Berlin Wall became a powerful symbol of the Cold War, representing the divide between the communist Eastern Bloc and the Western democratic nations. It stretched for about 155 kilometers (96 miles) and included guard towers, anti-vehicle trenches, and other defenses. The wall was also lined with a "death strip," which was a buffer zone that contained various obstacles and traps to deter escape attempts.

Over the years, thousands of East Germans attempted to escape over the wall, with estimates of successful defections varying, but at least 140 people are known to have died trying to cross it. The wall's existence was a source of tension and conflict between East and West, and it was a focal point for protests and expressions of the desire for freedom by those in the East.

The Berlin Wall came to symbolize the "Iron Curtain" that separated Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. Its fall on November 9, 1989, was a pivotal moment in world history, marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War and leading to German reunification less than a year later, on October 3, 1990. The dismantling of the Berlin Wall was a significant event that represented the collapse of communist control in Eastern Europe and the triumph of democratic movements across the continent.

Define the Following Terms: the Berlin Wall

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