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Korea is divided, and this has caused various disadvantages. Germany was also once divided and then reunified. In 1949, Germany split into East and West. The Berlin Wall divided Berlin and caused hardships for the people. East Germans were heavily controlled by the government and lacked freedom. West Germans enjoyed a more vibrant and colorful life. The fall of the Berlin Wall brought happiness and freedom. Life in East Berlin was restricted and monitored by the government. The economy was controlled by the government, leading to shortages and lack of opportunity. Despite the challenges, the people resisted and found ways to support each other. The closure of the border in 1952 led to more attempts to escape. The initial barrier was barbed wire and mesh fencing, but people still tried to cross. Korea is the only country that is divided around the world. It's been over 70 years and there are various disadvantages happening due to this. Germany, though one of the most powerful countries, was once a divided country too. Why was Germany divided? How did they reunify? What can Korea learn from this? So in today's episode, we will explore Germany's reunification, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and talk about what attitudes should we have in Korea's reunification. After World War II, Germany's capital, Berlin, was divided into four zones. Eastern Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union, while Western Berlin was controlled by the U.S., Great Britain, and France. In 1949, Germany was formally split into two independent nations. East Germany as German Democratic Republic, who were allied with Soviet Union, and West Germany as Federal Republic of Germany, who were allied with Western Democratic countries. In 1952, the East German government closed the border with the West, and there's a reason why they did that. And I would like to explain why later on this podcast, so pay attention and listen carefully. Anyway, even though East Germany closed the border, the border inside Berlin that divided West and East remained open. Nine years later, in 1961, on August 12th to 13th, a wired barricade divided Western and East Berlin, and this led to dividing neighborhoods and families. Until the war broke down, both East and West underwent massive urban development and city planning separately, and this led to major differences between the East and the West. Then how did lifestyle within the West and East differ? From now on, I will be an East German citizen, and my partner, Emma, will be the West German citizen and tell you about what life was like in both countries. When we think of East and West Germany, we usually think about the Berlin Wall. But do you know what Berlin means? The terminology Berlin in the Berlin Wall refers to West, and the West and the East have both called the Western Germany West Berlin. Speaking of West Berlin, did the West people lived abound or suffered when the Berlin Wall was established? History about West Berlin does not show such transparent pureness in this war but not war situation. In 1961, Willy Brandt, a social democratic candidate for the governing mayor of Berlin, stood in front of the members of the US, Great Britain and France, stating, quote, He was criticizing how these dominating nations are constantly dividing Germany into two. Brandt was helpless but had this stance that Germany will never be enslaved forever. He then calls for the US President, John F. Kennedy, to take clear steps like protesting before the United Nations. However, Kennedy did not accept that offer. He only sent extra US armies, who became a bystander when the West Germans were killed by the East Germans. Such dramatic situations we have learned at school were happening right now at that time, and all the citizens living in West Germany helplessly watched their friends, families and neighbors dying every day. What a horrific situation it was. Peter Biber, who was 16 when the Berlin Wall was built, recollects about the lives in West Germany. Quote, After the construction of the wall, life became hard and bad. Many things were forbidden, no press, literature, music and television from Western countries. There was no freedom to travel. The secret state police controlled the residents of East Germany and people didn't trust each other. The city of Berlin was divided. The people of East Berlin were imprisoned and they had no freedom. Many people were detained, injured or killed if they tried to flee. End quote. People like Peter Fetcher, an 18-year-old bricklayer, was shot in his stomach and back as he attempted to escape from East Germany. He called for help, but none of the bystanders helped, including the US soldiers and West German police armies, as his sleep led to death. However, things weren't as bad as the East German people had suffered. At least the West Germans had a peace but a little uneasy with the monster as well. There was a kid named Jamie Gordon who had been suffering in West Germany and faced a somewhat peaceful life. He had worked as a reporter for British Forces Radio. This was his life. Quote, I remember the East being black and white, cold, deserted and sad. Yet in the West of the city it was vibrantly colorful, exciting and full of people from lots of different countries. The contrast was remarkable. I remember the music and the world stars wanted to come to Berlin. I was in the lucky position of seeing and meeting them through my work. End quote. Then after he acknowledged the fall of the Berlin Wall, he recollects again. Quote, I remember the euphoric happiness throughout the city and also the Queens as banks, because each East Berlin resident coming to the West was allowed to receive 100 German marks, as what they had called welcome money. There were also Queens as supermarkets when they were able to buy certain foods that were extremely rare in the East. I am very thankful I was there to watch one of the most important events of the 20th century play out of my doorstep. End quote. We can see that the West Germans had enjoyed their lives, but they are pretty dangerous. Biden was thankful to live in a peaceful and safe country now. Quote, such a wall must never be allowed to happen again. It's important that children understand how good it is to live in freedom. That evil people must not have the power to let others suffer. End quote. Life was heavily influenced by the restrictions and controls imposed by communist government. One of the most notable aspects of life in East Berlin was the lack of freedom. Citizens were heavily monitored by the government, and any dissent or criticism of the regime was met with severe consequences. The Stasi, the secret police of East Germany, kept a close watch on the activities of the citizens, and anyone suspected of being a dissident or threat to the government, they would be taken to surveillance, interrogation, and even imprisonment. The economy of East Berlin was also heavily controlled by the government, with state-owned enterprises dominating the industrial and agriculture sectors. This led to a lack of economic opportunity and innovation, as the government's central planning and lack of competition stifled the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity. Many citizens in East Berlin struggled to make ends meet, as shortages of basic goods were not uncommon. There are stories of East Germans, how they got here, and how he or her family was separated. Today, I would like to tell you about one story about Lisa Steinheiser-Gleiser, who was living in East Germany when the Berlin Wall was built. Quote, I felt like I was living in a prison. I was a 14-year-old and lived in an Eastern German neighborhood. My father and my mother were both German. No one had televisions on our street. News came by human contact, newspapers, and even telephones. The night the wall went up, the beginning of the process anyway, my family was in our home. We began to hear people outside yelling, crying, louder and louder. We went into the streets to witness tragic panic and fear. Neighbors were telling each other and us that they had relatives in West Berlin. They tried to contact them, but they couldn't, that no one knew what was happening. Rumors spread. Some thought their relatives had been killed or would soon be killed. I had never witnessed anything like this. Everyone cried as time went on. Neighbors told us that they thought their loved ones behind the wall were lost to them for good. I'm sure one of those lost relations died over that period. That night is etched in my permanent memory. End quote. However, despite the challenges and restrictions, the people of East Berlin found ways to resist and push back against oppressive regimes. Many engaged in acts of civil disobedience, such as distributing underground literature or participating in small-scale protests. The construction of the wall and the restrictions imposed by the government also led to a strong sense of solidarity and resilience among residents of East Berlin, as they found ways to support each other and resist the control of the government. Life in East Berlin during the time of the Berlin Wall was a deeply challenging experience, marked by limited freedom, economic hardships, and the constant threat of government control. However, the people of East Berlin also demonstrated tremendous resilience and determination in the face of adversity, and ultimately played a critical role in bringing about the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of the city in 1989. Earlier in this episode, I told you that East German government had closed the border with the West in 1952, and there's a reason behind it. So now, I would like to talk about that and prepare to be amazed and shocked, because you are going to hear the most fantastic stories about how people escaped the wall. Before 1952, East and West German both led their citizens to go over East and West without restrictions. But as you see, life in the East was not good, so a bunch of East Germans started to cross over to West German, which meant that more and more people were leaving East Germany. As a result, Eastern Germany was going through economic hardships and other social problems. Realizing this, the East German government closed their border, and East Germans were no longer allowed to go over to the other side. Well, do you think people who had made themselves to reunify Germany again gave up crossing borders? Nope. Brave and ambitious Germans again started to escape the wall despite its dangers, and set aside some time every once in a while since you will want to listen to all of the stories. The initial barrier, the wall, consisted of barbed wire and mesh fencing. Some Berliners escaped by jumping over the wire or leaving from windows. However, as the wall expanded, it became more difficult. By 1965, 106 kilometers of 3.6 meter high concrete barricades had been added, topped with a smooth pipe to prevent climbing. Over the coming years, the barrier was strengthened with spike strips, guard docks, and even landmines, along with 302 watchers and 20 bunkers. Nevertheless, nearly 5,000 people in total managed to flee East Germany, and if you ask why, you will be astounded. The fact that nearly 80% of these were normal citizens is interesting. They dug tunnels, swam across canals, and flew hot air balloons or even crashed the wall with a stolen tank to escape. In fact, Wolfgang Engels, a 19-year-old East German soldier who had helped build a barbed wire fence that usually separated both Berlins, stole a tank and drove it through the wall itself. In 1963, more than 70 tunnels were built underneath the barrier and around 300 people managed to escape through them, which conducts tour of city's historic bunkers and tunnels today. Even though some people managed to escape, the risk was great. Over 138 people died while attempting to escape, and some were shot while West Berliners could see in full view. Tragic, isn't it? While the Berlin Wall kept East Germany stabilized, but tarnished its reputation as they were recognized as a symbol of communist country.