aug 16, 1961 - Construction of Berlin Wall Starts (Aug 1961)

Description:

Soviets backed off from worst threats, E German "puppet" regime starts construction of this (Aug 1961); Designed to stop pop drain from E Germany thru Berlin funnel; Seen as "wall of shame" by world, looked like enclosure around prison, stood for >30 years symbolizing post-WWII division of Euro;

fortified and guarded barrier btwn E and W Berlin, ordered by Khrushchev, stop flow of ppl to W Germany, destroyed in 1989; symbol of divide btwn capitalist & communist worlds;

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