Kala East And West Germany Separated By The Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall 1989 (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - After World War II, Germany was split in two: west and east. However, the life of the "communists" in East Germany under Soviet auspices appeared to be a lot of trouble. Starting from economic problems to the political system. So that many residents feel uncomfortable and try to flee to West Germany. To stem it, the East German government built the Berlin Wall.

Hartmut Richter was one of thousands of East Germans who craved freedom when his country was under the control of the communist state, the Soviet Union. Not a few of them wanted to flee to West Germany.

"I reached the point where I didn't believe the regime could be changed from within," he was quoted as saying by the Straits Times.

Richter first tried to escape from East Germany in 1966. By then, the Berlin Wall was more than a decade old. However, his first attempt failed. He was arrested on a train because he was caught carrying a fake letter to go to Austria.

Seven months later, Richter tried again. This time, the way is more extreme. He was determined to swim and dive across the Teltow Canal that separates the City of Brandenburg, East Germany and West Berlin. It took him four hours to get there. The road is not smooth. While fighting fear, he kept a race against time.

"A goose attacked me. The dog was barking. I had to wait a few times and dive underwater to shore," Richter said. "I was suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion when I finally made it and passed out on the beach," he continued.

After passing through a narrow road, border guards ready to shoot - when any citizens escape - and all the other obstacles on the way, Richter finally arrives in a different world. This time he succeeded.

Richter had worked and studied in West Germany. However, then a sense of solidarity arose towards those who were still on the east Berlin wall. "I want to help other people," Richter said.

He was determined to return to East Germany to help his friends escape. Incidentally, in 1972 there was an opportunity when the East German government relaxed the rules for West German citizens. He managed to "smuggle" at least 30 people using the trunk of his car.

However, Richter was found out. He was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison. In 1980, the West German government bailed it out to the East German government.

History of West and East Germany

After losing in World War II, Germany became a bancakan four countries. America, Britain, France control western Germany which forms the Federal Republic of Germany (RFJ). Meanwhile, the Soviets in the eastern part became the German Democratic Republic (RDJ).

However, RDJ, which at that time adopted a socialist state system, was in decline. The economy collapsed and there were many labor strikes due to changes in the political and economic system.

Because of these dire conditions, many "communists" crossed over to liberal West Germany. Quoting National Geographic, from 1946 to 1961, there were about three million people who fled.

Seeing this, RDJ leaders closed the border by building a 27-mile wall on the border of Berlin City in 1952. The wall is actually two parallel walls interspersed with guards and separated by a "death line" including guard dogs, landmines, barbed wire and some other obstacles to prevent citizens from escaping.

East German troops monitor the wall 24 hours a day and have the authority to fire at anyone who escapes. Indeed, many people wanted to run away. They do it in a risky way. For example, through tunnels, hot air balloons, even infiltrated trains.

Between 1961-1989, more than five thousand people managed to escape, including one of them Hartmut Richter who was mentioned earlier. However, many were also unlucky, around 140 people were killed while trying to cross the wall. The East German government even had protests from the United States for building a "prison wall". United States President Ronald Reagan addresses the Berlin Wall in 1987.

"Secretary General Gorbachev, if you are looking for peace, if you are looking for prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you are looking for liberalization, come here. To this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, knock down this wall," said Reagan mentioned the leader of the Soviet Union at that time, quoted by History, who made the speech on June 12, 33 years ago.

Over the years, the Berlin Wall became a symbol of Cold War atrocities. However, two years after Reagan's speech, the population of East Germany was exhausted. They staged massive demonstrations. Subsequently, Berliners literally tore down the walls with sledge hammers and chisels.

Finally, thousands of East Berliners flooded the walls, the guards were confused and finally opened the gates. Less than a month later, the RDJ was completely destroyed and on October 3, 1990, Germany was reunited.