Berlin wall germany

A Family Torn Apart

By ChristinaWatson

  • Separation

    Separation
    Esla lives in the western sector of the city. She visited her grandparents' house to have dinner. Her cousin and herself decided she would stay the night. They awoke in the morning and found of East German soldiers put down barbed wire barricades, blocking East Berlin from West Berlin. She is now separated from her parents and her brother.

  • Still Separated, but Alive

    Still Separated, but Alive
    The economy in East Berlin is bad. The government won't allow anyone out of East Germany. People were lucky to jump along the wall, using the windows before they are sealed with stones.

  • Christmas, Not So Merry

    Christmas, Not So Merry
    Christmas wasn't so merry for Elsa. She thought of her family all day. She knew that her parents and Peter felt awful. Her tears have come out throughout the day. She'll try to feel better for them so she won't seem ungrateful.

  • Happy Birthday to Me

    Happy Birthday to Me
    She is now 14 years old, but she still misses her family. The wall is completely built with barbed wires and guard towers. She's in the same class as Marta, but the teacher mostly talks about Communism. She could be trapped in East Berlin forever, but Happy Birthday to me.

  • Tragic Moment of a Life Taken

    Tragic Moment of a Life Taken
    Alf's friend, Peter Fechter was shot by a border patrolman as he was trying to escape. He was only 18 and bled to death while the patrolman didn't even try to help him.

  • The Hero to Me

    The Hero to Me
    President John F. Kennedy came to visit Berlin, but of course on the West sector. He believed that one day, the situation would change. When Elsa heard that, she knew that there was hope.

  • Grief-Stricken

    Grief-Stricken
    President John F. Kennedy was killed.

  • 16th Birthday

    16th Birthday
    Elsa turned 16. She was able to drive a car, but can't afford it in east Berlin.

  • Hope

    Hope
    President Ronald Reagan wants the wall to be brought down. He wants the Soviets to open the gate. Elsa might be able to see her family, since she was separated from them for more than 25 years.

  • Freedom

    Freedom
    The government destroyed the wall. This meant east Berlin was free. Now Elsa would be able to see her family that had be separated from er for more than 28 years.