GROUP 7: The President’s Daily Bulletin – Berlin Wall Timeline Post-WWII Berlin is divided into four zones at the end of WWII, each controlled by a separate Allied country. Within a couple years, the city is divided into two parts: 1) West Berlin, a free part of West Germany with economic and political support provided by the US, and 2) East Berlin, a communist city controlled by the Soviet Union. In 1948, the Soviet Union blockades West Berlin. The US and its allies airlift in medicine and food. In May of 1949, the blockade is lifted. 1949 The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) is formed, which means that the Soviet Union controls most of its military, politics, and economy. Private property and industry is nationalized (taken over by the government) and a secret police enforces Communist government policy. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) is created as a democratic free-market government. 1950-1953 Thousands of East Germans (and other migrants from Eastern Europe) flee to West Germany in order to escape the authoritarian rule of the Soviet system and seek economic opportunities. 1952 East German leaders meet with Stalin in Moscow, complaining of high rates of emigration to the West and the danger of easy access of the West to East German society and government. Stalin agrees; East Germany’s border with West Germany is strengthened, but the border between East and West Berlin remains open. Thousands flee to the west, reducing the East German working population considerably. 1961 On August 13, the East German army closed the border with West Berlin. Streets along the border were torn up and barbed wire was installed around the three western sectors of the city of West Berlin. A wall is quickly fortified with concrete blocks, chain fences, and mine fields. People who are caught trying to flee to the west were arrested or shot. Many families who lived on both sides of the Berlin border were split and those with jobs in the other sector couldn’t get to work. On August 19, an American special ambassador and Vice President Lyndon Johnson arrived in West Berlin to show their support for West Berlin. A convoy of western troops paraded through city streets.