50 years ago, the Berlin Wall arose to divide

By Chris Rodell

Fifty years ago, the Soviet-controlled German Democratic Republic began to build what it euphemistically called its “Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart,” better known as the Berlin Wall.

Few then could have imagined that the concrete wall would become a blood-soaked symbol of the Cold War.

But on Aug. 13, 1961, engineers for the Communist-controlled dictatorship began erecting a barbed-wire fence around West Berlin in an attempt to demonstrate East Germany’s sovereignty to the world and prevent a population that disagreed with its policies from fleeing to the West.

Klaus-M. von Keussler was a 23-year-old university law student in West Berlin in 1961. He remembers thinking when the wall began going up that it would be temporary nuisance. [more...]

Full story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44060292/ns/travel-news/

-- msnbc.msn.com2011-08-13

Berlin Wall: A blessing in disguise

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-heilbrunn-wall-20110812,0,7152765.story

An interesting take on this episode in human history. Helped prevent nuclear confrontation and promoted the fall of communism. I spent a few hours in the vicinity of checkpoint charlie in the 80's and it sent chills down my back.

Edited August 13, 201114 yr by BuckarooBanzai

Berlin Wall: A blessing in disguise

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-heilbrunn-wall-20110812,0,7152765.story

An interesting take on this episode in human history. Helped prevent nuclear confrontation and promoted the fall of communism. I spent a few hours in the vicinity of checkpoint charlie in the 80's and it sent chills down my back.

I have a checkpoint charlie border stamp in one of my old passports