Fall of The Berlin Wall: A reading and viewing guide to the watershed event

The East Side Gallery memorial in Berlin-Friedrichshain is a permanent open-air gallery on the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall. Pic/iStock

Erected by the German Democratic Republic in 1961, the Berlin Wall was a wall that divided the capitals of East and West Germany; East Berlin from West Berlin. East Germany was controlled by the Communist party with ties to the Soviet Union, while West Germany was under the Western Allies. Over two million East Germans had escaped to the West between 1949 and 1961. Hence, the wall was built by the eastern bloc to restrict movement of people between the two and came to symbolise the ‘Iron Curtain' that separated the Eastern bloc from Western Europe during the Cold War.

Thousands of people continued to make attempts at escaping through inventive methods such as tunnels, which has been extensively archived in media. The eventual dismantling of the wall in 1989 led to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and hence, the dominance of communism in Europe. The watershed moment has had a long lasting impact on the socio-political and cultural identity of Europe. On the 32nd anniversary of its fall, we have curated an essential reading and viewing guide for you to understand the history of this ground-breaking moment.

Watch

Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall

This 90-minute documentary by the History Channel follows the timeline of the Berlin Wall. Featuring original footage, the documentary's narrative dives into how the wall came into existence and its eventual downfall. An esteemed panel of experts weighs in on important events that transpired between 1961 and 1989.

Busting the Berlin Wall

While most envision the Berlin Wall as a concrete wall dividing two parts of the city, the wall grew to be heavily guarded with barbed wires and soldiers intent on preventing escapes. The 102- minute documentary delves into the daring escape attempts that were made by East Germans trying to cross the wall. Viewers get an in-depth look into the terrifying and unusual escape attempts that involved people risking their lives through cutting edge CGI recreations.

After the Wall: A World United

There is no denying that the aftermath of a momentous occasion such as the fall of the wall is immense. This 55-minute documentary is essential viewing for anyone who wants to better acquaint themselves with the legacy of the fall, from the March 1990 East Germany election to the reunification of Germany. Viewers revisit events that preceded the collapse and get a well-rounded view of the happenings through interviews with former US president George H.W. Bush and former West German chancellor Helmut Kohl, alongside first-hand accounts from everyday Germans, which provide personal perspectives.

Read

The Collapse: The Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall
by Mary Elise Sarotte

Not many know that the collapse of the Berlin Wall was accidental. Massive crowds headed towards the wall after an ambiguous press conference by an East German spokesperson catch everyone's attention. In this book, Historian Mary Elise Sarotte introduces us to revolutionaries Aram Radomski, Roland Jahn, and Siggi Schefke and draws on archival interviews. She narrates a detailed story and paints a picture so vivid that readers are transported to the numerous happenings across Prague, Budapest, Leipzig, and Dresden. A gripping read that offers a definitive account of what conspired that night.

After the Berlin Wall: Memory and the Making of the New Germany, 1989 to the Present
by Hope M. Harrison

Preserving the memory of a historical event is a task as it shapes public opinion for decades to come. Even three decades post its fall; the history associated with Berlin Wall remains controversial. This revelatory book draws on a wide range of archival interviews and sources, and profiles key activists who have struggled to commemorate the history of the Berlin Wall. Harrison examines the role of these memory activists in the creation of a fresh German national narrative and traces how global memory has impacted German collective memory.

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