1961: Construction of Berlin Wall Begins

DATE: August 17, 1961

DESCRIPTION: Large concrete slabs and hollow blocks began to be put into place on August 17, replacing the barbed wire fence that was previously put up. The barrier was built inside East Berlin/Germany territory, with chain fences, walls, minefields and other obstacles installed along its length. Soldiers stood in front of the wall to shoot anyone attempting to defect.

BLAME: This event took place straight after the Berlin border was closed for the exact same reasons: too many East German citizens were migrating to West Germany due to the living conditions imposed by how East Germany was being treated by the Soviets. Therefore, the USSR is also to blame for this event.

TENSION INCREASE: This event is directly related to the previous one, so the tension increase is roughly the same. The wall further increased already growing tensions greatly between the West and the East because it emphasized the split and differences between the two sides. It served as a physical symbol of the “Iron Curtain” that divided the West and the East. +1.5

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