Life in Divided Berlin After 1961 Flashcards

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What happened to movement between East and West Berlin after the Wall was built in 1961?

The border was almost completely closed. Most people could no longer move freely between East and West Berlin and had to stay on their own side.

How did the Berlin Wall affect families and friends in Berlin?

Many families and friends were split overnight. Some lived on different sides of the Wall and could not visit each other or only met on rare, tightly controlled visits.

What was everyday life like in West Berlin after 1961?

West Berlin stayed a rich, modern city with more shops, better housing and higher wages. People could vote, speak freely and travel to West Germany and other countries.

What was everyday life like in East Berlin after 1961?

East Berlin was a communist city. The state controlled jobs, the media and travel. There were some benefits, like cheap rents and full employment, but there were shortages and fewer consumer goods than in the West.

How did the East German government describe the Berlin Wall in its propaganda?

It called the Wall an “Anti-Fascist Protective Barrier”. It claimed the Wall was needed to defend East Germany from Western spies and fascists, not to stop people escaping.

What was the ‘death strip’ along the Berlin Wall?

The ‘death strip’ was the open area between the inner and outer walls. It had floodlights, barbed wire, watchtowers, guard dogs and armed guards ordered to shoot people who tried to escape.

How did some East Berliners still try to escape after the Wall was built?

They dug tunnels, hid in car boots, used fake papers, tried to drive or ram through checkpoints, built home-made aircraft or hot air balloons, and sometimes jumped from buildings close to the Wall.

What dangers did people face when trying to cross the Berlin Wall illegally?

They risked being shot by border guards, blown up by mines, torn by barbed wire or arrested and jailed if caught. Some people died in front of crowds who could not help them.

What role did the Stasi play in life in East Berlin after 1961?

The Stasi was the East German secret police. It spied on people, used informers, opened letters and listened to phone calls. Many people were scared to criticise the government, even at home.

How did the Berlin Wall affect travel and work for ordinary Berliners?

East Berliners could no longer cross to jobs in the West, and West Berliners lost easy access to the East. Crossing points were few, and East Germans needed special passes, which were hard to get.

How did life in West Berlin feel more secure after the Wall was built?

The Wall fixed the border, so people in West Berlin felt less fear of a sudden Soviet takeover. The city was still supplied and protected by West Germany and the USA, so daily life could carry on.

In what way did the Berlin Wall show the contrast between East and West Berlin in daily life?

On the West side there were bright adverts, busy shops and modern cars. On the East side there were fewer goods, plain buildings and tight controls, showing the split between the two systems.

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