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Russia captures Berlin
The USSR and USA were competing to be first to get to Berlin. USSR wins this race, reaching Berlin on April 16th, and the two meet on the 25th of April.After the capture of Berlin, the USA became scared of the USSR powers in the pacific. -
Berlin and Germany divided into four zones
Germany was divided into zones; three zones run by countrys with capitalist ideals. These were France, America and Britan. One zone run by the USSR, with Communist ideals. -
Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade was the act of the Soviet Union blockading all roads and railway into Berlin. This led to the Berlin Airlift, where British, American, Canadian, Australian, South African and New Zealand airforces banded together to fly supplies into East Germany; as all other access points were blocked. This was an attempt to force the Allies to abandon Berlin, being deep inside the Communist region of Germany. -
Foundation of the Stasi
The Stasi was created on Feb 8, 1950 with Wilhelm Zaisser as the chief officer and Erich Meilke as his deputy officer. The Stasi was established as official state security service of East Berlin and a loyal ally to the Solviet Union. -
Wilhelm Zaisser replaced by Walter Ulbricht
After the June 1953 uprising Wilhelm Zaisser tried to forcefully remove Socialist Unity Party General Secretary Walter Ulbricht from office. Because of this Ulbricht threw him out of office and had him replaced by Ernst Wollweber. -
Strike Leads to Uprising
Strike by construction workers in Berlin led to the 1953 uprising. Radio hosts in West Berlin broadcasted news of this which only brough about riots in East Germany. -
Citizens Protest Government
400,000 protesters gather in East Berlin demanding Soviets leave and government be replaced, with many other protests throught all of East Germany. Stasi ans Solviet Poilice organizations and Troops forcefully suppress the riots. -
East Germany forms National People’s Army
The National People's Army was considered to be the most advanced army in the Warsaw Pact because (since East Germany was in the middle of the Cold War) the army was battle-ready at all times. -
Hauptverwaltung Aufklärung Established
Also in 1957, The Hauptverwaltung Aufklärung (General Reconnaissance Administration) was established, with Markus Wolf as its head officer. The HVA served as the foreign intelligence section of the Stasi. Wolf was allowed to infiltrate the west german government with spies, which was a great success for the Stasi as a whole. -
Wollweber Resigns
In 1957, after disputes with Walter Ulbricht and Erich Honecker, Ernst Wollweber resigns and his position was succeeded by his deputy officer, Erich Meilke. -
Construction Starts on the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall (when completed) stretched more than 87 miles and included barbed wire snares, guard towers, anti-vehicle trenches, and many other tacticts to prevent people from crossing from either side. -
Walter Ulbricht Resigns
Walter Ulbricht resignes and is replaced by Erich Honecker. -
Telephone Service restored.
The telephone service between East and West Germany is restored. -
East and West Germany sign Basic Treaty
The Basic Treaty was a big ste for East and West Germany because it meant that (for the first time) they recognized each other as sovereign states. -
East Germany Defeats West Germany at World Cup
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"Tear down this wall!"
"Tear down this wall!" was the challenge from United States President Ronald Reagan to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to destroy the Berlin Wall.
In a speech at the Brandenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, commemorating the 750th anniversary of Berlin, Reagan challenged Gorbachev (who was then the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union), to tear it down as a symbol of Gorbachev's desire for increasing freedom in the Eastern Bloc. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall fell as a result of the peaceful revolution of 1989 in which german citizens protested against the authoritarian government regieme of the GDR. It was the fall of the wall that ultimately led to the fall of the GDR roughly a year later. -
Stasi ordered to stop spying on East Germans
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Deutsche Einheit (German Unity)
The long process of reunification of germany finaly came to and end. Germans still celebreate this day every year. -
Stasi files opened to Public
German citizens can (even today) request to see their Stasi file. The process however takes almost two years (from the time of application to the time the person can actually sit down and read their file).
