The Berlin Wall: A Hotlist

Introduction

If you thought about for a minute, you'd certainly be able to imagine how extensive the Berlin Wall is as a topic of study. When you want to study such a vast topic, it helps a great deal to have a few good questions in mind. For instance, why was it built in the first place, or how long did it last? The best kinds of questions are those that keep you wondering, those that you've thought about before or recently realized that you don't know. Sometimes this will be factual and you'll discover the right answer. Other times, your questions get to the heart of what makes a subject worth studying. Many people spend their lives studying and working in fields related to this topic. Now's your chance to join them!

Use the links below to explore the topic, your interests, and those important questions that you have about the Berlin Wall. Before you get going, jot down 5 questions that you have to serve as a guide to your inquiry. The Web will offer some unique resources that might not be available anywhere else, so dig deep and see what you find. As you search, allow yourself to follow one lead after another, and add to your questions as more come to you. Write those down as well. In order to get a better idea of what good exploring looks like, please read the evaluation rubric before you jump into the ocean of information!

Internet Links

Conglomerated Information

 

German History in Documents and Images: Two Germanies (1961-1989)

Overview of History and Berlin Wall

 

Newseum: the Berlin Wall

Story surrounding the Rise and Fall of the Wall, including pictures, videos, news articles, etc

 

The Berlin Wall

Simple Overview Page about the Background, Construction, and Fall of the Wall

 

Berlin Wall Online

Very easy to read, easy to navigate website about various aspects of the Wall

 

CNN-Destination: The Legacy of the Berlin Wall

Simplified, interative article with pictures discussing the Wall and issues surrounding it after its fall

 

The Berlin Wall-1989

Simple overview about the Wall, it's background. Describes, in detail, the physical location of the wall, the ditch, etc

 

History of Berlin Wall by Europe-Cities

A simple description of the history of the wall

 

Background: Life leading up to the Wall

 

German History in Documents: Occupation and the Emergence of Two States (1945-1961)

History leading up the Berlin Wall

 

The Facts about Germany: The two German states

Historical Overview of the two German states

 

USA and USSR: Exchange of Notes on the Berlin Wall, 1961

A telling exchange between USA/USSR on their views of the wall

 

The Construction and Life during the Wall

 

CNN: Memory of Berlin

After-the-fact news accounts of Berlin Wall deaths

 

History.com: Video Gallery (Ronald Reagan's Speech)

Ronald Reagan speaks about his visit to the Berlin Wall

 

CNN-Memories of the Berlin Wall

A CNN Article that lays the groundwork for people to share their personal experiences surrounding the wall

 

The Fall and post-Wall Life

 

CNN: Germany marks anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall

News article about the Fall, and the need to save the wall as a memorial to those who died.

 

Berlin Mitte: Explorations of an Urban Conversion

A Photo Essay of Berlin with some alternative pictures of the wall and its surroundings, as well as visual depiction of Berlin as a changing city

 

An End to Communism

A Student-designed, easy to understand webpage, briefly discussing the end of the Communism in East Germany

 

Photographs

 

Berlin Wall: Web Photo Exhibition

A small, yet thorough collection of moving pictures of the Wall, from both sides

 

CNN-Berlin falls on hard times

A short article describing some of the financial trouble in Berlin after the fall of the Wall

 

The Stijg Page: Berlin Wall Art

One man's website containing a variety of color photos of the wall, mostly from the book 'Berliner Mauer Kunst'

 

The Lost Border: Photographs of the Iron Curtain

One of the best Photo Essays I've seen on the Internet of the Division between East and West Germany

 

Berlin Wall Images

A conglomeration of photos without titles or descriptions

 

Inner German Border

 

Inner German Border

Simple webpage describing, with pictures and text, the Inner German Border

 

Other

 

Berliner Mauer: Documentation Center

The website for the Berlin Wall Museum on Bernauerstrasse

 

Conclusion

Do you feel that you have a better understanding of the overview of the wall? Did any site in particular stand out to you in the process of your exploration? Because anyone can publish on the Web, it sometimes reflects the chaotic, uneven, sometimes confusing world around us. By exploring the Web, you've journeyed into real learning where you must judge between fact and opinion, bias and insight, importance and insignificance. I hope you've added to the wisdom carried around in that head of yours. If you want to check yourself, take a look at the evaluation rubric for this activity. Either way, remember that understanding isn't a destination, but a journey. Have a great trip!