When it comes to the type of tour, a politicized landmark of the Cold War – the Berlin Wall – one may consider going around it. Of course, as with any newcomer in this subject, one must first look at the situation and historical perspective of the wall and what such an action means. In this article, the reader will learn about the circumstances which led people think about the possibility of going around the Berlin Wall, as well as the outcomes that were linked to it.
The Historical Context
Before going deeper into the minds and background to going around the Berlin Wall, it is essential first to know its background. The Berlin Wall was built by East Germany in 1961 inorder to stop people from moving to West Berlin that was under direct occupation by the western powers. They separated people physically and even ideologically; and families as well as friends were separated by the wall.
Reasons behind Going Around
1. Escape from Repressive Regime:
Most people who were living under the GDR felt that they deserved a better life, especially in West Berlin. They wanted to break the wall and for this purpose, they took very risky measures, so as to come out of that wall.
2. Reunion with Loved Ones:
Separation of the families as well as our friends was facilitated by the construction of the Berlin Wall. Passing it enabled people to get back to the families they held dear.
The Consequences
1. Risk of Arrest or Death:
The East German border guards were instructed to remain at their posts and to stop any attempts to getaway. Going around the wall posed certain troubling dangers; border guards were allowed to shoot those who attempted to cross the wall.
2. Life-Altering Legal Implications
Still, if a person was able to avoid the wall circumventing it, he or she was punishable by law if caught, and could spend years in prison for trying to escape from the GDR.
Tips for comprehending and Seeing the Berlin Wall Now
If you’re interested in visiting the Berlin Wall and learning more about its historical significance, here are some tips:
Visit the Berlin Wall Memorial: The memorial is for the wall and people who lost their lives and there is enough information giving about the construction of the wall and the effect it had on prominent citizens.
Explore East Side Gallery: This is part of the original wall structure that has been left but is used as an open-air art site.
Join a Guided Tour: If you prefer to have more comprehensive history and stories relating to the formation of the Berlin Wall, it will be better to take a guided tour.
Conclusion
Of course, going around the Berlin Wall might be a dream of freedom and reunification, but that was risky and prohibited. The penalties of noncompliance included arrest and untold potential casualties. Learning some of the historical facts and effects of building the Berlin Wall bring a lot of information that was personally experienced by people during the Cold War period. Seeing the representations of this important part of history in the museums, galleries, monuments is not going to entail legal consequences.
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