Hundreds of thousands of eager eyes awaited the very moment that could change their lives together. Some not even realizing how different life would be without the barrier, as they have been born into the imprisonment that is East Germany. The districts East and West Berlin will be united once more. Communists will not dictate the people's freedom anymore.
The borders were built over night, on October 15, 1961. The Berlin wall separated many families and friends. Its purpose was to divide the city permanently into East and West Germany. The point of this was to isolate the communist section, East Germany, from ever entering West Germany, the Capitalist side. This decision affected families and friends throughout the country, trapping them like hamsters in a cage, unable to escape without being killed. I believe that it is the people’s right to have the freedom to leave, and that obtaining freedom, and going against the opinion of their superiors is worth fighting for. “ I was reminded of an old military saying that was instilled and repeated so many times that it is etched on my mind. It states "Freedom is worth fighting and dying for." (Rick B.) This quote is taken from a soldier that witnessed the horrors of the slaughter of any man trying to escape East Germany. Though he himself was not German, he observed so many struggle to climb over the wall in an attempt at freedom. Even with over 30 armed guards, ready at the posts, ready to shoot, the man tried to escape because he wanted to have a chance for his freedom.
Another man that lived hopeless and discouraged in East Berlin was Victor Broman. ‘Germany stands divided into two sides, neither is good but in the interest of my personal freedom I must side with the West.’ His desperation for freedom was apparent in this quote. Victor must betray, and leave his homeland in hope for a better life. One without barriers in the way of loved ones. One without all hope lost. One without the rationing of food. This kind of choice is brutal, but necessary. However, with the destruction of the wall, Victor, and many others, rushed in a flurry to reunite with lost ones, and escape the poverty surrounding them. The only thing keeping them from trying to escape, which always ended up as a suicide mission, was the little hope they had of the barrier being torn down for once and for all.
Freedom is what so many died for, and what so many struggled for. The Berlin wall operated as a border that no one could pass. Forever trapped were the people of East Berlin. That is, until 1961. The freedom gained is unimaginable, and it brought East and West Germany, to unite as a country once more. No longer setting neighbors against each other, and just spreading peace across the land.
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