The Berlin Wall was a physical and ideological barrier that divided Berlin, Germany, from 1961 to 1989. Its construction was initiated by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) to prevent the mass emigration of East Germans to West Germany and its capital, West Berlin. The wall consisted of a series of concrete walls, fences, watchtowers, and guard dogs, stretching over 155 kilometers (96 miles) throughout … Continue reading The Berlin Wall: Dividing a City, Uniting a Nation