How Can You Successfully Cross the Berlin Wall?
It was constructed on the 13th of August in 1961, was a barrier which divided east and west Berlin during the period of Cold War. Most people wanted to use it for over 27 years but many people looked for ways how to avoid it and get through to freedom, their families, and the more favorable East German government. As for the detour section of the paper, several techniques which were employed to cross the Wall will be highlighted.
1. Tunneling
Among other techniques used in the escape across the Berlin Wall, tunneling was one of the most risky and challenging endeavors at the same time. Escaping from persecution became possible with underground tunnels from the West to the East. In the undertaking of these activities, several groups of volunteers worked very hard with a lot of precision in planning and implementation.
1.1 Tunnel 29
Let me provide the characteristics of some major success stories of tunneling: Tunnel 29. Organized by Joachim Neumann West Berliner a group of students and engineers dug a tunnel that could adequately accommodate about 30 people for their escape to the West. It was an underground tunnel and death strip; this means that the two walls were heavily fenced.
2. Hot Air Balloons
One of the most peculiar techniques that were employed to travel across the Berlin wall was through the use of hot air balloons. These devices enabled people or a limited number of persons to fly over the wall and directly into West Berlin’s airspace before parachuting onto the ground.
2.1 The Strelzyk and Wetzel Families
Peter Strelzyk and Günter Wetzel with their families decided to construct a hot air balloon secretly and establish itself as inventors. On September 16th, 1979, they managed to release the hot air balloon and flee to the West with eight ‘passengers’ on board.
3. Hiding in Vehicles
Another approach that some of the brave people used was to conceal themselves inside cars. This entailed a lot of strategic planning and several times this was made possible by the help of members on the other side of the wall.
3.1 The Hidden Compartment Trick
The former included concealing avails that allowed people to hide during such crossings by going slightly inside vehicles. At times, these compartments were meant to be used as escape pods, in other cases normal vehicles were installations into the Palace.
Pros Cons
Relatively discreet method Risk of inspection and discovery
Possible assistance from sympathetic individuals Uncomfortable and potentially dangerous during long journeys
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4. Border Crossings
Among numerous non-rationally explicable approaches applied by a few participants, there was a strange one connected with legal migration. Some of them seized an opportunity, or rather received an opportunity, that enabled him to lawfully travel between east and west.
4.1 Day Trips and Travel Permits
Still, the regular East Germans could also receive permits for day-trips to western part of the city, usually for cultural and educational purposes. Some of them took those day trips as a chance to leave for good thus avoiding to return to the East.
5. Human Chain Escape
When the fall of the Berlin Wall was less than a year away, several thousand people jointly built a human chain through the crossings that eliminated the direct backlash of the wall in the process.
5.1 Peaceful Protests and Mass Demonstrations
Mass protests of tens of thousands of East Germans demanding for free elections and liberalization of the border regimes occurred. Well, sheer pressure from the people led the authorities to allow them to move from one checkpoint to the other.
Conclusion
The Berlin Wall stands for the division in Europe, but at the same time are examples of the courageous attitude and ideas that people introduced to cross the Wall. Whether it is through the bitting tunnel, hot air balloons, hiding in a cars, taking advantage of any legal chance or even partaking in mass demonstration, their insistence of reuniting with their loved ones and gain freedom is one of the indelible strength of human beings.
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