What barrier was erected in 1961 to stop East Germans from fleeing to the West?

• A. Berlin Wall
• B. DMZ
• C. Great Wall of China
• D. Maginot Line

Answer: (A)

The Berlin Wall was the barrier built in 1961 to stop East Germans from fleeing to the West. It went up overnight along the border between East and West Berlin, backed by the Soviet-backed East German government. Its purpose was to halt the mass exodus of people fleeing communist East Germany for a better life in the West, which was straining the East German economy and signaling dissent within the regime. The wall stretched across the city with concrete barriers, guard towers, and other security measures, effectively closing a major escape route and symbolizing the division between East and West during the Cold War. It stood for nearly three decades until 1989, when political changes allowed people to cross and the barrier was opened and soon dismantled.