Cold war and division of Berlin

The Cold War was a time of mistrust between Eastern and Western countries without any direct fighting.

Division of Germany

After World War II, Germany was split into four parts controlled by the United States, France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union.

The US, France, and Great Britain combined their areas to create West Germany (a democracy).

The Soviet Union made East Germany (a communist state) from its part.

Germany was now two countries: West Germany and East Germany.

Division of Berlin

Berlin, located in East Germany, was also divided into two halves:

One half was controlled by the Communists.

The other half was a Western democracy.

The Berlin Wall

From 1948 to 1961, about three million people left East Berlin for West Berlin to escape communism.

In 1961, the East German government built the Berlin Wall to stop more people from escaping.

Guards shot anyone trying to cross the Berlin Wall.