August 13, 1961 — East Germany begins building the Berlin Wall
Overnight, East German troops began sealing off East Berlin with barbed wire, soon replaced by concrete — built specifically to stop East Germans from fleeing to the free West, not to keep anyone out. It stood for 28 years as the clearest physical symbol of the Cold War's divide.
Common Questions About August 13
What happened on August 13 in American history?
In 1961: East Germany begins building the Berlin Wall. Overnight, East German troops began sealing off East Berlin with barbed wire, soon replaced by concrete — built specifically to stop East Germans from fleeing to the free West, not to keep anyone out.
Why is August 13 significant?
Overnight, East German troops began sealing off East Berlin with barbed wire, soon replaced by concrete — built specifically to stop East Germans from fleeing to the free West, not to keep anyone out. It stood for 28 years as the clearest physical symbol of the Cold War's divide.
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