We all know it was impssible to leave due to the wall, but what was stopping citizens taking a detour around the wall?
Thanks
2006-06-19 08:10:10 · 18 answers · asked by GL 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Basically, after the war Germany was divided in two, East Germany and West germany
A Common misconception is that Berlin is on the line between the two
IN FACT it is NOT, Berlin is quite deep into East germany, but the West Germans wanted to have a bit of their capital city, so Berlin was divided in 2 and West Germans going to Berlin would have to cross the border far from Berlin and then drive to Berlin from there.
The East Germans couldn't go round the Berlin and behind the wall because there was a wall all the way round it to prevent this,
2006-06-19 08:17:56 · answer #1 · answered by revolutionman1379 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Actually, quite a few people did cross over into the West by going around the 'wall' but it wasn't easy as the border was guarded heavily and there were some natural barriers... like high mountain ranges and rivers with some VERY cold water in them.
I had a very good friend, at one time, who made his living sneaking people out of East Germany and into the West... he could tell some of the most fascinating stories I have ever heard from anyone.
2006-06-19 08:18:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Berlin was entirely within East Germany and West Berlin was completely surrounded by the wall. There was no "end" of the wall to go around.
2006-06-19 08:20:21 · answer #3 · answered by James 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fact that East German border guards were armed to the teeth and given 'shoot to kill' orders by their commanders, acting on the instructions of the Communist party hierarchy, under the leadership of Erich Honecker. Even if they strayed into 'no-man's land', that didn't stop the guards opening fire. This was one of the twentieth century's worst examples of atrocities carried out for political reasons. It begs the question why no former members of the East German Communist party are, or have been indicted for these crimes. Erich Honecker may have died, but there must be many others who must be held accountable.
2006-06-19 11:46:48 · answer #4 · answered by TrueBrit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the wall was so long and it was guarded by a border patrol, if they tryed to they would have been shot, and even if they got ast the wall they might not have been accectped into society. Also people have bussinesses and familys on the east side of the wall.
2006-06-19 08:14:26 · answer #5 · answered by Castmagic 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A 20 0r 30 foot high fence with barbed wire and guard towers evey 50 yards and also a 100 meter strip of plowed ground with mines in it.
2006-06-19 08:15:31 · answer #6 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think maybe the armed guards at regular intervals may have been a bit if a deterant. This was not a wall like the one around your garden you know.
2006-06-19 10:29:17 · answer #7 · answered by monkeyface 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They shut off all around the western sector of Berlin.
2006-06-19 08:13:43 · answer #8 · answered by Levit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You obviously never lived there then. It tok med 10 yrs to get out of there. Your question is insulting as I have not seen my family for over 20 yrs
2006-06-19 08:16:01 · answer #9 · answered by Llessu 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How about Guards with guns.
2006-06-19 08:14:47 · answer #10 · answered by koshercondos 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋