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The end of World War II. Berlin is divided into four sectors each controlled by an Allied power, USA , Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.
June 24th
Soviet forces implement Berlin Blockade isolating
Berlin. The Allied Airlift is started to circumvent the
blockade and supply the city by air. The Allied Airlift lasts
11 months until the Blockade is lifted.
Fall
Soviets declare a separate
The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) are established.
June 17th.
Massive strike in East Berlin and East Germany is broken by a brutal use of force by the Soviets. On June 16 a group of workers left their East Berlin jobsite in protest over recently imposed work conditions that in effect increased their workweek without more pay. This initial job action was thought to be minor until the following day, June 17, when, without any organizing body, workers not only in Berlin but across East Germany joined the workers in East Berlin. This resulted in the use of Soviet troops and tanks to quell the widespread civil unrest and was an indication of how the Soviets were to impose their style of Socialism.
November 27th.
Soviet Union issues Berlin Ultimatum and orders the three allies to leave Berlin.
June 15th. The president of the East German Privy
Council, Walter Ulbricht, announces at a press conference in East Berlin:
"Nobody has the intention to build a wall." August 13th. The wall suddenly appears in the form of
massive use of barbed wire to seal off the three western sectors from East
Berlin and East Germany.
June 26th. President John F. Kennedy delivers his
famous speech ending with "Ich bin ein Berliner". Unknown to Kennedy
the people of Berlin never refer to themselves as "Berliners". The
term in Berlin refers to what may be termed a jelly doughnut. This misstep was
cause for much amusement among the crowd, however, the intended meaning by
Kennedy was very much welcome and appreciated. June 13th. East Germany introduces passport controls and mandatory visas for travel to and from West Berlin.
September 3rd.
The Four Power Agreement is signed bonding West Berlin with West Germany.
October 29th.
French President Giscard d'Estaing visits West Berlin to confirm the Allies commitment to a free city.
June 11th.
U.S. President Reagan visits West Berlin to reiterate the Allies commitment and points to accords that have been reached through negotiation as examples of the possibility of settling differences peacefully.
October 29th.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher visits West Berlin to emphasize the importance of a free Berlin.
June 12th.
General Secretary of the
United Nations, Javier Perez de Cuellar, comes to West Berlin thus
emphasizing the importance of having a free Berlin.
October 11th. French President Francois
Mitterand with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl visit to emphasize the
importance of Berlin for East-West relations.
Yearlong celebration of
Berlin's 750th anniversary.
November 9th. The Berlin Wall is opened. There is no way to determine
what part the historical significance of the date of November 9 may
have played in the opening of "The Wall". The following
events also took place on the same date and are obviously important
events in the history of Berlin and Germany. 1918:
Emperor William II abdicates and for the first time "The German
Republic" is declared. 1938:
Nazis conduct a large scale harassment of Jews, burning and looting
their properties and the outward beginning of the physical abuse of
Jews which included arrest and numerous attacks.
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