How GDR citizens tried to escape between 1961 and 1988 | History Stories

Between 1949 and the summer of 1961, some 2.6 million East Germans left for the West; a figure representing a sixth of the country’s entire population. The GDR’s response was to build a wall in Berlin. Thereafter, West Berliners needed a permit to visit the East. As for East Berliners, they were barred from visiting the city’s western districts. But many still tried to reach the West; an endeavor that ended in death for some. In this episode of History Stories we explore the stories of the over 100,000 citizens of the GDR who tried to escape across the inner-German border or the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1988. #dwhistoryandculture #history #berlin #berlinwall For more visit: https://www.dw.com/en/culture/s-1441 ⮞ Follow DW Culture on Facebook:   / dw.culture   ⮞ Follow DW Culture on Twitter: twitter.com/DW_Culture Please follow DW's netiquette: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G