Existing comment:
Trophy of Civil Rights (Berlin Wall Fragment)
A section of the Berlin with graffiti on one side and signed artist work on the other. The painting on one side shows two people reaching for each other over the wall. It is thought the painting was done in 1989-90 when numerous artists expressed their feelings in view of the falling down of the Berlin Wall.
For 28 years the Berlin Wall separated East from West Germany and symbolized the division of Europe and the world. Construction began on 13 August 1961 upon the orders of the East German Communist leadership, who wanted to prevent a mass exodus to the Federal Republic of Germany. All along the 155-kilometer border a complex system of barriers and fortifications was erected: a 3.60-meter high wall made of concrete slabs like the ones in front of you, a patrol belt-known as the "death strip," and a trench. Watchdogs, watchtowers and bunkers made the area virtually impenetrable. The Wall severed all traffic and communication links between East and West Berlin with the exception of a few border crossing points such as "Checkpoint Charlie". Over 200 people died trying to cross the Berlin Wall. Thousands were arrested and sentenced to long prison terms. The fall of the wall on 9 November 1989 as a result of the peaceful revolution in East Germany was one of the happiest moments in the history for the German people. |