On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall—a symbol of Cold War division and oppression—was breached, and Berliners poured through the newly opened checkpoints in an emotional wave of unity and celebration. Now, thirty-five years later, the wall no longer divides East from West, but its remnants and the scars it left on Berlin are still visible, telling the story of a city split in two for nearly three decades.
The Berlin Wall was constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) on August 13, 1961, in a sudden, overnight operation. Barbed wire was the first obstacle, which was quickly replaced by concrete barriers, watchtowers, and a "death strip" designed to keep East Germans from escaping to the West.
Cold War
At 155 kilometres, the Berlin Wall divided the city into two separate entities: families, friends, and communities. It soon became a powerful symbol of the Cold War and the "Iron Curtain" separating Eastern Europe from the West. The Berlin Wall endured until 1989, when mounting protests and political shifts finally led to its fall, allowing Berliners to reconnect and reintegrate after 28 years of separation.
For those looking to understand how the Berlin Wall shaped Berlin, the city offers several landmarks, museums, and forgotten stretches of infrastructure that still bear the marks of division.
Tempelhof Airport and the Berlin Airlift
Tempelhof Airport, Berlin’s legendary airfield, played a heroic role in the 1948-1949 Berlin Airlift. After the Soviets blockaded West Berlin to cut off supplies, British and American forces organized a massive relief operation, flying food and essentials into the city.
Berlin Wall Memorial and the East Side Gallery
Berlin has preserved some wall sections as historical landmarks and reminders of its divided past. The Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Strasse is one of the most poignant, offering an open-air exhibit where you can see remnants of the wall, the death strip, and a reconstructed guard tower.
The East Side Gallery, meanwhile, transforms a remaining segment of the wall into an outdoor art gallery. It features colourful murals painted by artists worldwide, commemorating peace and the wall’s fall.
Forgotten Relics: Watchtowers and Hidden Stretches of the Wall
Although much of the Berlin Wall was dismantled, several less conspicuous reminders remain, hidden in plain sight. Near Potsdamer Platz, a nearly forgotten GDR watchtower stands alone, a relic that narrowly escaped demolition. The small, concrete tower, now dwarfed by modern buildings, is a stark reminder of the armed surveillance that characterized life along the wall’s border.
Small segments of the wall still emerge in other areas, like the residential streets and overgrown backyards. Forgotten stretches, often obscured by foliage or graffiti, serve as quiet yet haunting reminders of the past, inviting those who seek them out to reflect on Berlin's divided history and the erasure that followed its reunification.
Abandoned Infrastructure
The Wall cut through streets and neighbourhoods and interrupted significant transportation routes that once connected East and West Berlin. The Friedhofsbahn, a railway line built initially to connect Berlin to its cemetery in the suburb of Stahnsdorf, was abruptly severed by the wall’s construction.
This line remains abandoned, a ghostly reminder of the daily life and connections halted when Berlin was split. Similarly, parts of the A115 highway fell into disuse as traffic was redirected around the division.
Symbol of Soviet Dominance
The Panzerdenkmal (Tank Monument) was once an imposing reminder of Soviet power, with a Soviet tank perched on a plinth at the entrance to Berlin, signalling Soviet dominance over East Germany. After the fall of the wall, however, this tank was removed, a symbolic dismantling that coincided with the withdrawal of Soviet forces and the reunification of Germany.
A Legacy of Political Repression
No exploration of Berlin’s divided past would be complete without a visit to the Hohenschönhausen Memorial, a former Stasi prison that housed political prisoners, many of whom attempted to flee East Germany. The prison played a chilling role in enforcing the Berlin Wall’s isolationist policy, as those caught trying to escape faced brutal interrogation and imprisonment there.
35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall
Even 35 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, its traces remain a powerful part of Berlin's landscape, keeping the memory of division alive. These historic sites and hidden relics tell stories of separation, resilience, and eventual unity, reminding visitors of Berlin’s journey from division to reunification.
For a deeper dive into Berlin’s Cold War history and industrial heritage, explore our articles on Berlin and about life in the GDR.
