64 years after the construction of the Wall: Remembering the victims of division

64 years after the construction of the Wall: Remembering the victims of division

On August 12, 2025, the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, made a statement on the occasion of the upcoming 64th anniversary of the building of the Wall. In his speech, he described the Berlin Wall as a symbol of the injustice of the GDR, which not only divided Germany, but also stole the freedom of the people in the GDR and cost countless lives. Wegner recalled the tragic fate of Çetin Mert, who drowned in the Spree 50 years ago on his fifth birthday. He emphasized the hindrance that West Berlin rescue workers experienced when helping in the GDR, as they were not allowed to intervene without permission and GDR border guards often reacted too late.

In the speech, Wegner also thanked the Berlin Wall Foundation, which this year is focusing on the children who were victims of the GDR border regime. On August 13, 2025, he will take part in a prayer service in the Chapel of Reconciliation at 10:30 a.m. and lay a wreath at the Berlin Wall Memorial at 11:15 a.m. Registration for both events is required by August 12th at 12 p.m.

Remembering the victims

The commemoration events for the building of the Wall are not only an opportunity to confront the past, but also to commemorate the victims. According to information that at least 140 people died between the Wall and reunification, many of them died trying to escape. Important personalities took part in central commemorations in Berlin, such as the one at the Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse, including the Berlin commissioner for reappraisal, Frank Ebert. Wreaths were laid at these events to honor the suffering and hardships of the people during the partition period.

Commemorative events also took place in Brandenburg, including in Potsdam and Großbeeren. Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke emphasized the disruption and suffering of the people affected by the wall and emphasized the importance of commemoration. He stated that it was almost unbearable that people paid for their freedom with their lives.

The Wall as part of German history

The construction of the Berlin Wall began on August 13, 1961 and marked a turning point in German history as it sealed the division of the country. This wall was about 155 kilometers long in total and for more than 28 years separated not only Berlin, but also the hearts of the families who lived on both sides of the wall. The memories of the victims and the reminder to defend democracy and human rights are of central importance for society.

As the contributions also show, commemorating the GDR past remains an important task that many, such as Culture and Science Minister Manja Schüle, actively support. Schüle spoke at the Glienicke Bridge about the consequences of the German-German division and described the wall as a symbol of oppression.

The stoic memory of the events is kept alive through numerous events in Berlin and Brandenburg. Everywhere it is expressed that freedom and human rights must be defended in order to prevent such tragedies in the future. Given the reminders of the injustices of the past, it is of the utmost importance that such commemorations and the associated reflections continue to take place.

Further information about the events can be found here: Berlin.de, rbb24 and Deutschlandfunk.