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Weekly Online LessonOnline Lesson ArchivesGrade Level: 7-12
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When the Wall Fell
On November 9, 1999, citizens of the reunified Germany — along
with the last Cold War leaders — celebrated the tenth anniversary of the fall of the
Berlin Wall. A decade ago, Berliners took to the streets in a spontaneous explosion of
disbelief and jubilation as they realized that the Wall that had divided their city had
figuratively crashed to the ground. For the first time in 28 years, East Berliners were
allowed unrestricted access to the west. The dramatic shift in policy signaled to Germany,
and to the rest of the world, that the communist East German government had lost its
control. Recognizing this, Germans literally began to chip away at the wall with chisels
and hammers.
The event came to symbolize the fall of communist rule in Eastern Europe, the end of the Cold War. 11 months later, Germany was politically and socially reunited. Read about the 10-year anniversary of the end of the Wall from coverage by MSNBC and CNN.
When was the Berlin Wall built? Why was it built? How did it come to symbolize the struggle between independence and oppression? And what led to its fall? In this week's online lesson you will learn more about the history of the Wall, and the politics at work on both sides.
Concrete Curtain
Forty years ago Communist propaganda hailed the "anti-fascist" Berlin Wall as a barrier to keep capitalists out of communist lands. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Wall prohibited people in the East from escaping to the West. Before you begin to research the history of this Cold War monument, it helps to understand that the Wall was more than just a brick and mortar structure. It was an elaborate containment system very much like the boundaries of a high security prison.
You can see exactly what the Berlin Wall consisted of from
the MSNBC Interactive site called Concrete Curtain
(you will need Flash Player installed). Read Cold War Berlin for a little
background, and then click The Berlin Wall from East to West. This page
shows a graphic of the elaborate system of security in place for 103 miles around the
"island" of free West Berlin. Roll your mouse over each obstacle — everything
from guard dogs to an anti-vehicle ditch — to read an explanation
You can find another good interactive look at the Wall from CNN Interactive. How the Wall worked. This one is not as clear in terms of the functionality of the barrier, but it has more stories about how East Germans succeeded, and some who failed, to get across.
Two Sides One Story explores the history of the Wall relating to news media, which became a key factor in the historical developments.
The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall is a concise history of the Wall from the end of World War II to after the fall. Read each topic, then take the Berlin Wall Quiz.
The Commissar Vanishes. Explore the communist culture of control that led to the creation of the Berlin Wall.
Essay.
Read this excellent essay by Gene Mater about the relationship
between an open and free media and a free and open nation.
History of the Wall
An excellent source of historical information about the Berlin Wall can be found at this
online exhibit from the Newseum Web site. Explore these sections:
Another good source of historical information about the Berlin Wall — particularly in terms of photographs — is the Berlin Wall at dailysoft.com. Explore the Facts and Timeline. Also view the photographs of The Wall in the 60s, 1989 and 1997, and Berlin 1999.
The Cold War
The Berlin Wall is only one chapter in the history of the Cold War that
endured for nearly half a century. 
You can learn more about the Cold
War by exploring the Cold War Museum
online, dedicated to the men and women who served during the Cold War. The sections are
divided into three time periods: 1945-1949,
1950-1980, and 1980-1990. The two links
related directly to the Berlin Wall are Separation
of Berlin and Fall of
Berlin Wall. Don't stop there, though. Each topics is an interesting, concise
retelling of key Cold War events.
For a look at television coverage of the Cold War, visit the Cold War Time Machine from MSNBC. The interface looks like a television set, and links on the left let you select which NBC News video clip you want to watch. They all have to do with the Cold War — just choose the link that matches your Internet connection speed.
The CNN Interactive special Cold War is a Web companion
to the CNN Documentary series of the same name. You will get the most benefit from this
site by watching the documentary and exploring the Web site simultaneously; however,
there's a lot to discover just at the site. Click the Episode-by-Episode
link to visit sites with corresponding Web content. Play the Cold War Challenge
games if you've done your homework and think you're up to it.
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Learners Online, Inc.