ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Espionage, Intelligence, and Security Volume ...

Berlin WallThe Brandenburg Gate was sealed off by the Soviets in the Soviet-occuppied sector of East Berlin in 1961. Located at the center of the German capital, the gatestood at the divide between East and West Berlin until the wall was torn down by German authorities and citizens in 1989. AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS.crossing the borders each day. Many East Berliners workedin the West, where they could make more money and soenjoy a higher standard of living than those working in theEast, a situation that led to resentment from some. Berlinersfrom the West enjoyed the extra spending power theircurrency offered in the East, crossing the border for lessexpensive haircuts, clothes, and other goods and services.Relatives living on opposite sides of the city could visiteach other, students crossed to attend schools and universities,and many people crossed the border to attendconcerts and sporting fixtures. There were some measuresintroduced to make crossing the border difficult andfrustrating, such as police controls on many crossingpoints, and the barricading of some streets, but over 80access points still remained open, and the undergroundrailway (S-bahn) still crossed regularly.However, there were a large number of people crossingfrom the East who simply did not return. Towards theend of the Second World War there had been a flood ofrefugees fleeing from the East to the West ahead of theadvancing Soviet army. While the tide slowed after theend of the war, there remained a steady stream of Germanswho left the East of the country and resettled in theWest. It is estimated that more that two and a half millionEast Germans fled into the West between 1946 and 1961,yet the entire population of East Germany was only 17million. The East German authorities attempted to restricttheir citizens crossing by introducing passes and making“fleeing to the Republic” a crime with potential jail sentenceof up to four years.There were many factors driving the refugees. Somewere as basic as seeking a better job, more food, or morematerial goods. The numbers of refugees spiked upwardsduring times of hardship in the East, when food and otheressential resources were scarce. The social and politicalchanges that had taken place in the Soviet zone, such asthe educational reforms and the removal of many judgesfrom their positions, resulted in many educated and wealthypersons moving to the West. The refugee problem grewand became an embarrassment for both sides. The East104 Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security