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The Berlin Wall Story: Biography of a Monument
Where did the Berlin Wall actually stand? Why was it built? How did people keep managing to escape across it - and how many died in the attempt? Why did it come down in the end? Numerous previously unknown photographs document the construction of this barrier system of barbed wire, alarm fences and concrete. Spectacular escape stories and shocking deaths are chronicled here in words and images, as are the dramatic events surrounding the construction and the fall of the Wall. A stunning survey of the Berlin Wall, the central symbol of the Cold War.
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 28, 2015
I purchased this while at the DDR museum in Berlin which is one of the best museums I've been to. I'm fascinated by post-WWII communist societies and just how fucked up they were. This museum is like an interactive experience of what communism was like on the east side of the Berlin Wall. It even has footage of communist cartoons from the '80s on these vintage television sets which blew my mind. It also has replicas of a typical communist family's apartment.
Anyway; this book is a short history of the Berlin Wall. It was very easy to read and I enjoyed it in between walking round Berlin, looking at communist and Nazi historical sites and also the city's fantastic graffiti which can be found not only on the wall itself, but all over the city.
Anyway; this book is a short history of the Berlin Wall. It was very easy to read and I enjoyed it in between walking round Berlin, looking at communist and Nazi historical sites and also the city's fantastic graffiti which can be found not only on the wall itself, but all over the city.
March 29, 2023
Really great little pocker-sized book. Informative and very well formatted with a good mixture of facts, quotes, maps and photos
November 22, 2018
The history of the GDR, German Democratic Republic #Eastern Germany, is well documented. Created at the end of the Second World War, it encompassed part of the current 2018 Germany, with the "four powers" of France, the United Kingdom, Russia and America sharing parts of Berlin within the overall territory of the GDR. Capitalism in the French, U.K. And American sectors, Communism in the Russian section. West and East Berlin.
The differing economic models, inclusive of free market forces in the west, vs collectivization and central planning in the east, along with the policies of the occupying forces, investment via the marshal plan in the west vs dismantling of industry capability for repatriation to Russia as war appropriation were all contributing factors to the migration of people from the east to the west.
The reaction of the East German government to resolve this issue was the constitution of a barrier, a wall, that encircled the GDR. Barbed wire erected on the night of the 12/13 august 1961 would be replaced and enhanced over time by a series of barriers of ever increasing complexity until the reunification of the modern state of Germany.
This then is an excellent account of how the wall came to being from inception to removal, of the social impacts it caused in terms of personal, political and economic, in the main mostly upon Germans, but so too to some extent globally. A collection of facts, it is presented in a non political aligned manner, with the exception in part of some of the comments and realities it caused the people in the GDR.
Personally, and having read several works about this period of Germany history, the hypocrisy, idealism vs reality of a failing system and at times idiocy of the GDR leadership and its security apparatuses, continue to confound me. However that is my opinion, and I found that this work added factual evidence of what the wall was designed to do with east Germany and within the wider part then configuration of socialist European states.
An engaging work should you be new or read of this period of German and European history, experienced not that long ago from May 1945.
The differing economic models, inclusive of free market forces in the west, vs collectivization and central planning in the east, along with the policies of the occupying forces, investment via the marshal plan in the west vs dismantling of industry capability for repatriation to Russia as war appropriation were all contributing factors to the migration of people from the east to the west.
The reaction of the East German government to resolve this issue was the constitution of a barrier, a wall, that encircled the GDR. Barbed wire erected on the night of the 12/13 august 1961 would be replaced and enhanced over time by a series of barriers of ever increasing complexity until the reunification of the modern state of Germany.
This then is an excellent account of how the wall came to being from inception to removal, of the social impacts it caused in terms of personal, political and economic, in the main mostly upon Germans, but so too to some extent globally. A collection of facts, it is presented in a non political aligned manner, with the exception in part of some of the comments and realities it caused the people in the GDR.
Personally, and having read several works about this period of Germany history, the hypocrisy, idealism vs reality of a failing system and at times idiocy of the GDR leadership and its security apparatuses, continue to confound me. However that is my opinion, and I found that this work added factual evidence of what the wall was designed to do with east Germany and within the wider part then configuration of socialist European states.
An engaging work should you be new or read of this period of German and European history, experienced not that long ago from May 1945.
July 7, 2019
An interesting book full of shocking stories and unknown facts around the years of the Berlin Wall (1961-1989).
The most thought-provoking story I read about was related to a German Guard named Hans Conrad Schumann. He was the first East German border guard who defected to West Germany three days after the barrier's construction.
His escape was photographed by Peter Liebing and became immediately after a symbol of freedom and liberty in the West during the Cold War. His image was called "the leap of hope".
However, on the other side of the Wall, Schumann was portrayed as a traitor. His family suffered repercussions from the Stasi and Schumann's escape made their lives miserable during the years of the Wall.
Schumann later related that he decided to jump when he saw how a small girl who was visiting her granparents in East Berlin was held back and not allowed to be reunited with her parents. As a border policeman he was moved and did not want to take part in these actions.
The paradox was that he had also been separated from his family when he defected to West Germany.
As a result of leaving everything behind, Schumann suffered from depression and alcoholism. Although he met his family again when the Wall came down, he never had a good relationship with them. As a result of his problems, he commited suicide in 1998 at the age of 56.
There are always two sides to every story.
The most thought-provoking story I read about was related to a German Guard named Hans Conrad Schumann. He was the first East German border guard who defected to West Germany three days after the barrier's construction.
His escape was photographed by Peter Liebing and became immediately after a symbol of freedom and liberty in the West during the Cold War. His image was called "the leap of hope".
However, on the other side of the Wall, Schumann was portrayed as a traitor. His family suffered repercussions from the Stasi and Schumann's escape made their lives miserable during the years of the Wall.
Schumann later related that he decided to jump when he saw how a small girl who was visiting her granparents in East Berlin was held back and not allowed to be reunited with her parents. As a border policeman he was moved and did not want to take part in these actions.
The paradox was that he had also been separated from his family when he defected to West Germany.
As a result of leaving everything behind, Schumann suffered from depression and alcoholism. Although he met his family again when the Wall came down, he never had a good relationship with them. As a result of his problems, he commited suicide in 1998 at the age of 56.
There are always two sides to every story.
January 26, 2025
Retour sur l'histoire du mur qui a été mis en place durant 40 ans.
Beaucoup de personnes assassinées en essayant de passer à l'Ouest. Même les immeubles se retrouvent séparés en 2.
Le mur est tombé suite à une erreur lors d'une conférence de presse et à une mauvaise interprétation des médias.
Le mur de Berlin était la plus longue oeuvre d'art contemporaine.
Livre acheté à Berlin.
Beaucoup de personnes assassinées en essayant de passer à l'Ouest. Même les immeubles se retrouvent séparés en 2.
Le mur est tombé suite à une erreur lors d'une conférence de presse et à une mauvaise interprétation des médias.
Le mur de Berlin était la plus longue oeuvre d'art contemporaine.
Livre acheté à Berlin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2018
Some of the chapters are very touching and very educative about all what happened before, during, and after the wall.
July 2, 2019
A short,yet very complete book, with many photos and easy to follow the Berlin Wall story.
July 19, 2022
A small sized book but packed with information and history, of the politics surrounding the wall's building, the guards, numerous escapes by citizens, and ending with the tearing down in 1989.
May 16, 2025
Spoiler alert they ended up destroying the wall...
May 30, 2025
A lovely little book rushing through the history of the wall with data and images.
January 23, 2014
This book is an excellent account of The Berlin Wall that separates East and West Berlin.
The wall is a symbol of happiness and separation, of tear and laughter. People, in a desire to gather with their significant others, years after years never stop thinking of ways to cross the line. Many have been shot dead while some happened to kill themselves (with explosives).
Thankfully, the East Berlin, under tremendous economic pressure and internal political unstability, had to give up its status and establishment, paving the way for German reunification that followed. And that was in 1990, only 14 years ago.
The emotional moments came when the wall was deconstructed. An influx of people rushed to meet their families, friends, lovers, with hugs and kisses.
This is a book that you definitely don't want to miss reading.
The wall is a symbol of happiness and separation, of tear and laughter. People, in a desire to gather with their significant others, years after years never stop thinking of ways to cross the line. Many have been shot dead while some happened to kill themselves (with explosives).
Thankfully, the East Berlin, under tremendous economic pressure and internal political unstability, had to give up its status and establishment, paving the way for German reunification that followed. And that was in 1990, only 14 years ago.
The emotional moments came when the wall was deconstructed. An influx of people rushed to meet their families, friends, lovers, with hugs and kisses.
This is a book that you definitely don't want to miss reading.
January 4, 2021
A small book on the history surrounding the Berlin Wall. It takes a peek into the circumstances that led to the creation, tightening of security, its role as international border, and eventual fall, thus paving the way for German reunification. The Berlin wall played a crucial role on the international stage by separating capitalism from communism. I finished the book in a day. I learned a lot about Germany and communism from this book.
June 1, 2013
Un perfecto compendio breve de la historia del muro de Berlín: cifras, testimonios, declaraciones oficiales y fotografías históricas sintetizan uno de los capítulos definitorios de la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Ideal como introducción a la materia.
January 28, 2015
Short, easy reading and full of images. In most topics it doesn't go deep enough, but it is a good overview of the split Berlin. I bought this book in a souvenir stand outside of Checkpoint Charlie, and it is totally worth it for what I needed during and after a first visit to the city.
August 7, 2014
Everything you want to know, need to know, should know, and should know but might not want to about the Berlin Wall.
August 13, 2014
Extremely well-researched, well put together and well-written short book on the history of the wall and the people who had to live with it. Impossible to put down.
October 3, 2014
Gostei. Um relato completo cheio de ilustrações. Tem ainda a vantagem de nos remeter para algumas páginas online com mais algumas informações.
July 17, 2015
A short, but great and very detailed book on the wall.
August 15, 2015
I grew to enjoy the small format of this book. Little in size but succinct in detail, thus large in information. A useful, factual read on the Berlin Wall.
November 29, 2015
A good primer on the Berlin Wall.
February 22, 2014
Excellent read for those who want to know about the wall.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews