5 secret facts about historical Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall View
Berlin Wall View

The Berlin wall was a major geographical error, separating the eastern and western parts of Germany. It was fallen in 1989, till then it was a symbol of cold war. Berlin was the center of every German at that time. Many people living in East Germany died while trying to climb this wall to meet their separated family. It symbolized the loss of human rights and freedom. The fall of this wall on November 9 proved to be a major transformation for the people of Germany as this leads to their unification:

Berlin

Fact 1: The fall of Berlin wall was happened by mistake!

Yes, Günter Schabowski, East German Politburo member announced in a press conference on November 1, 1989 that restrictions on travel visa shall be uplifted. This was an absolutely immature handeling of facts as when he was asked about when shall such policy would begin, he said “Instantly, without delay”. On the very next day the uncontrolled and overwhelmed mob opened the border crossing by their own and the other gates soon followed.

Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall

Fact 2: The Berlin wall was actually Berlin ‘walls’ as it was 2 in number

The 27 mile long wall was actually two concrete walls, between which it was a ‘death strip’. This strip was 160 yards wide that were having hundreds of watch tower, thousands of anti-vehicle trenches to stop people climbing the wall.

People around Berlin Wall
People around Berlin Wall

Fact 3: A piece of wall stands straight in the bathroom of a Las Vegas casino

More than 40,000 parts of this wall were recycled during 90s for reconstruction purpose. But, few portions were auctioned and are now speckled across the globe. From Vatican’s garden to the men’s washroom of Main Street Casino, Las Vegas.

Fact 4: Around 100 people died while crossing Berlin wall

According to reports, several people were shot dead and several met with fatal accident or committed suicide on failed attempt to cross this wall. The first victim was a lady who died while attempting to leap a West Berlin wall from her fourth floor window at East Berlin. The incident took place on August 22, 1961. And the last incident was registered during 1989 when a young German tried to find an escape in a hot air balloon which got crashed with electricity line.

Berlin View
Berlin View

Fact 5: Kennedy never called himself a ‘Jelly Doughnut’

“Ich bin ein Berliner”. These were the world of Kennedy in his speech of June 26, 1963 where he was intended to show solidarity with Berliners but some critics claimed that ‘ein’ is an indefinite article which means a jelly doughnut. But there was no confusion among listeners, the thing caught hype unnecessarily.