Berlin Wall: 65 Years Since Start of Division That Marked German History

Germany is marking the 65th anniversary of the start of the Berlin Wall's construction, a stark physical manifestation of the Iron Curtain that divided the country and the world for 28 years. The "Operation Rose" began on this day, leading to a barrier that became a potent symbol of the Cold War's ideological divide between the Soviet bloc and the West.

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Today our country has been unified for longer than it was divided, and we live in freedom and peace. The lesson of the Wall is that freedom and democracy must not be taken for granted, but must be fought for again and again.

Commemorations are taking place at significant sites like the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall Memorial. Officials highlighted the wall's enduring impact, noting that even decades after its fall, its legacy continues to influence perspectives on issues such as migration, the pandemic, and relations with Russia. The division meant that one's place of residence, neighborhood, or even the side of the street could determine one's freedom.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reflected on the nation's current state, stating, "Today our country has been unified for longer than it was divided, and we live in freedom and peace. The lesson of the Wall is that freedom and democracy must not be taken for granted, but must be fought for again and again." Bundestag President Julia Klöckner laid wreaths in honor of the victims, recalling Ida Siekmann and Günter Litfin, among the first to die attempting to flee to the West.

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The 13th of August, the place of residence, the neighborhood, or even the sidewalk of the street determined freedom or lack of freedom.

The construction was a response to the escalating emigration from East Germany, which had lost approximately three million citizens since its founding in 1949. Despite fortified borders elsewhere, Berlin remained relatively permeable. In July 1961 alone, about 30,000 people fled to the West. Initially hesitant, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev eventually approved the plan, leading East German authorities to begin preparations in strict secrecy for what became known as 'Operation Rose.'

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No one has the intention of building a wall.