
About this episode
In August 1961, communist East Germany began building the Berlin Wall, which divided the city for nearly three decades and became a symbol of the Cold War. We hear the memories of Germans from both sides of the Wall and tales of daring escapes. Plus, what life was like in the East - from nudism and folk music to the grim reality of facing the notorious Stasi secret police.
PHOTO: Soldiers at the Berlin Wall in the early 1960s (Getty Images)
Get every episode summarized
Each time The History Hour publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from The History Hour

The world’s first perfume archive and Dutch car-free Sundays in the global oil c...
The History Hour

Cleaning up Chernobyl and Canada’s war in the woods
The History Hour

Winning the Booker Prize and discovering a lost fairytale
The History Hour

Hitler’s teeth and the Leaning Tower of Pisa
The History Hour