Is It Possible to Simply Go Around the Berlin Wall?
The Berlin Wall was a barricade that was constructed in the year 1961 separating East and West Berlin, which was the most famous representation of the cold war between communism and Capitalism. For a period of twenty nine years it had remained an unyielding barrier that pitted families, friends and a nation. Well, could it have been avoided just by going around this without having to conquer it? In the following section, let’s dwell on the possibilities to answer this question.
The Construction and Purpose of the Berlin Wall
It was erected by the German Democratic Republic or commonly known as East Germany to prevent the citizens from escaping to the west. In addition to walls, there were wire fences, watchtowers and armed security personnel who guarded this area of concentration. East Germany used the excuse of constructing a barrier as a mean of preventing people from being influenced by the western liberalization ideas.
The Geography of the Wall
It was during this time that the Berlin Wall went up around the western side of the city known as the West Berlin effectively isolating it from the territory of East Germany. The length of the wall was about 155 kilometers or 96 British miles and was composed of two walls made of concrete with the ‘Death Strip,’ in between. Originally, they were laid not only at the edges of the city but also dissected Berlin from inside squalor neighborhoods, streets, and some sorts of buildings.
The Security Measures
Abbreviated watchtowers and armed border patrols with vigilance to ensure that none of the inmates managed to flee from the compound. Other measures that could have been employed included installing of the tank traps,anti vehicle trenches, flooded areas to prevent people from driving through the wall.
Bypassing the Berlin Wall
Since so much effort had been put in ensuring the construction of the wall, trying to circumvent it as shown above especially using the feet would have been quite dangerous and uphill task. Here are the few reasons why it might have been nearly impossible to bypass the wall:
- Guards were very alert with armed security and observation being done even through the use of watchtowers, search light beams and even trip wires. To sneak through such a well-guarded area without coming across the guards is something that would have been very difficult.
- • Physical The major structural features that formed the wall were barbed wire fencing, trenches and the ‘death strip’ between zone A and B walls. These were intended to bar any form of access around the wall in one way or the other.
- Legal Consequences: The attempt to escape the GDR attracted severe consequences that involved imprisonment besides risking being shot dead. The mere fact that people may be apprehended and severely punished was enough to discourage most of them.
Alternative Methods of Escape
Nevertheless, a few of them still managed to seek refuge in the west and start a new life. Nevertheless, as the circumnavigation of the wall was impossible, a number of other strategies was employed:
- Tunneling: Several tunnels were channeled through the wall whereby people could crawl through in other to escape. It was even important for such tunnels to be planned, equipped and coordinated with people from both sides of this wall.
- Aerial Incidents: Some of the thrilling stunts were the use of hot balloons and makeshift zipline to fly or glide over the wall respectively. These procedures had to be well planned and most especially implemented discreetly to prevent being intercepted.
- There are also records of people who crossed the wall disguised as diplomats, truck drivers or concealed in vehicles. This strategy was based on trickery, scheduling, and not arousing the attention of the enemy during crossing the border.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
In 1989 –A years that was full of change of power, political pressure, as well as social pressure made it became possible to pull down the Berlin Wall that depicted the end of the Cold War. And now, people did not need to hope that it would be possible to get around the wall at all, or make another attempt at a daring escape. With permission, the demolishing of the wall which was a Thomas the fence barrier reunite relatives and friends of several years.
A Lesson in History
The Berlin Wall justifiably remains a symbol as people’s values and their divisions resulting from ideology. As it is physically impossible to merely go round the wall, this analogy signifies that people will do everything in their power to be free and fight for their freedom.
In conclusion, it is critical to state that to cross the Berlin Wall going round it was actually impossible. Achievement of the same was made very hard due to the tight security measures and physical barriers put in place. However, different other procedures showed the intention of getting rid of oppression by peaceful actions.
Table of Contents
