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The Berlin Wall Germany was divided up between the Allied powers at the end of World War 2. Berlin, the capital, was also divided up between the UK, France, the USA and the USSR, although it was in the Soviet area of the country. The Soviets found that many citizens living in their area of the city were fleeing to capitalist areas where they could have freedom and have a higher quality of life. To stop this happening, the USSR built an immense wall, surrounded by an area of cleared land. The Berlin Wall came to symbolise what the Cold War was really about. Hundreds died in an attempt to cross that desolate stretch, gunned down by the guards. The few families that made it into West Berlin were extremely inventive, coming up with unique ways to cross over to the other side. On the 9th November 1989, the government permitted the crossing of the Berlin Wall, and was dismantled in the weeks that followed. In October 1990, Germany was officially reunited. This is seen as the end of the Cold War. |
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