Declassified: Rise and Fall of the Wall (Part 2/5)

For three decades, it symbolized the chasm between East and West, a brutal, grey barrier which divided a city and was a constantly-simmering focal point of the Cold War. But on November 9, 1989, the long-oppressed citizens of East Berlin broke the first chink in its 96 miles of concrete and barbed wire, signaling the start of one of history's most dramatic political transformations. A simple mistake by an East German official (who announced free transit to the West) unleashed joyful and anarchic celebrations on either side of the Wall. Germans East and West rushed to embrace each other, but how would the Soviets respond? Would they reinforce GDR border guards and fire on the revelers? Would the try to force the gates closed? Would they fire on the West, unleashing World War III? The world watched and waited.

Drawing on formerly secret archives from both sides of the Wall and the memories of those who risked their lives to cross the deadly barrier, Declassified: The Rise and Fall of the Wall presents all the detail and drama in a non-stop, fast-moving montage cut to a rock and roll beat. Featuring rare footage, insider reports and interviews with pivotal figures like President George Bush Sr. and Mikhail Gorbachev, this is an unforgettable portrait of a Cold War icon.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• USA
• Russia
• Germany
• Berlin
• Wall
• Documentary

[Abonanno24601]

@JohanOlsson because if WWIII had started, the first battle grounds would of been at the wall.

[JohanOlsson]

@abdulbade totally agree =) My mom is from soviet and dad is from ddr, and they compare their stories =) the soviets were more brutal, tho the eastern germans learned pretty much of them =( still I can't understand why eastern germany, did not kicked the soviets out! that would be much better, so they could unite =) I mean why should the same people live in separated countries =(( its like North and South Korea =(

[abdulbade]

@isurfu2ube

the germans were not wrose than the soviets.

[kerojis]

@cacophonyize thank you!!

[cacophonyize]

@kerojis

Ya sure. In 1953, it was decided by the Soviet Union to succeed Germany from Europe and displace it into Asia. The powerful nations in the world like Poland, Nepal, and Angola were firmly against this and the Soviet Union would dare challenge them. So in the end the Soviets wanted to prevent any Europeans, especially western Germans from coming into their conquered land. The East Germans were mightily in favor of this and wanted it to be called Stalin's wall, which was denied.

[kerojis]

can any body here give me brief history about berlin wall?

[isurfu2ube]

More like Wealthy Spoiled citizens!

[isurfu2ube]

That's what Germans get for trying to Capture Moscow and Russia, Instead their Country gets taken over and their city gets captured and divided! Nazi Germans reaped for what they sowed!

[vtecivicsib18]

@KhemAndKurami sick FREAK

[KhemAndKurami]

@vtecivicsib18 I love it when you talk dirty to me baby, yeah c'mon do, do it!