The Berlin Wall

   The Berlin wall was constructed post- WWII in the 1960's while Europe and especially Germany was still trying to find its identity in the post-war era.  After the war ended, Germany was divided up into four zones, each occupied bya different Ally.  However, Russia was quite a different government that the rest of the Allies.  It was fascist in nature, which lead to a very restricted life for its citizens.  Naturally, droves of people began to flee to West Germany.  The Berlin wall served to divide Germany and keep it that way.  As if this wasnt enough.  East Germany further reinforced the wall by adding concrete and blocking up Windows facing West Germany so East Germans couldnt sense any of the freedoms of West Gremany.
   During the Wall's existence, many families were split because members could not go join others who had already crossed.  Many were cut off from their jobs.  The Wall certainly did not help international relations.  West Germany criticized the US for not doing anything about the construction of the Wall. Andthe US was generally against Russia for building the Wall.
   Thanks to Western media, negative feeling about the wall spread quickly. On August 17, 1962, Peter Fechter was shot and injured very close to the West side of the strip while trying to cross.  Westerners were unable to help him for fear of engaging for from the guards.  Peter bled to death in full view of the Westerners and its media.  On JUly 19, 1988, East Germany invited BRuce Springstten to perform a concert to win back some of East Germany's youth.  The plan backfired and made them wish for Western freedoms even more.  John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan also deliverd speaches in WEst Germany urging the demolition of the wall.
   Finally on November 9, 1989, the Wall was officially ineffective.  Although the wall was not immidiately taken down, citizens chips away at the wall and made their own border crossings.  People from both sides celebrated eccstatically in the weeks that followed.