If you’re planning a trip to Berlin, visiting the Berlin Wall will likely be high on your list. But did you know that the version of the Wall we see today wasn’t even begun until the mid-1970s?

The Berlin Wall evolved over time, starting as a simple barbed-wire obstacle and eventually becoming the formidable border we think of today. To illustrate these changes, I’ve created a series of sketches showing how the Wall developed along Bernauer Strasse in northern Berlin. Keep reading to learn more!

Before the Berlin Wall

At the end of World War II, Germany was divided into occupation zones (see image 1). Berlin was also split into four zones during this period, as each Allied power wanted a portion of Germany’s capital city.

A few years after the war, Britain, France, and the United States joined forces to create West Germany. In 1949, the Soviet-occupied territory was officially declared the German Democratic Republic (GDR) (see image 2). Germany was now cut in two: East and West.

The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), which served as the state party of East Germany, quickly established a dictatorship supported by the Soviet occupiers. However, many East Germans disagreed with the new political and socialist economic system, leading to a mass migration to West Germany. Between the founding of the GDR and the construction of the Berlin Wall, roughly one in every six East German residents fled the country.

In 1952, the SED closed East Germany’s border with West Germany, but the borders in Berlin remained open, causing many people to flee into West Berlin. The border in Berlin was monitored by East German border guards who performed checks at intersections between East and West. Although there was no physical wall at that time, crossing the border was still dangerous, claiming 39 lives before 1961.

Construction of the Berlin Wall: The Early Days

On August 13, 1961, the Socialist Unity Party (SED) began constructing the Berlin Wall. First, a barbed-wire fence—approximately one meter tall—was erected. A few days later, work began on a wall made of concrete blocks and bricks (see image 3).

However, neither the barbed-wire fence nor the brick wall stopped East Germans from fleeing. In fact, for some people, the need to leave became even more pressing. Families divided by the Wall were eager to reunite, and many continued to flee west. As a result, the SED persisted in improving and expanding the border.

Initially, each successful escape led the authorities to erect new, individual barriers in those specific escape spots—an attempt to prevent others from fleeing in the same way. By 1963, this effort became more organized with the establishment of the “Border Area” on the East Berlin side of the Wall.

The Border Area delineated a zone behind the Wall where East Germans were not allowed to venture too close to the border. Along Bernauer Strasse, the SED bricked up windows and doors in buildings near the border to prevent escapes. Beginning in the mid-1960s, they also demolished many of these buildings (see image 4).

The emergence of the ‘Death Strip’

In the 1970s, a second ‘inner wall’ or ‘hinterland wall’ was completed to make escape even more difficult (see image 5). The area between these two walls became known as the ‘Death Strip.’ It was constantly lit to ensure that anyone who managed to scale the inner wall would be spotted by the border guards. In fact, both walls were painted white to make it easier to see the shadows of anyone attempting to flee.

Over the years, the Death Strip was expanded and ‘improved,’ adding more and more obstacles for potential escapees to overcome. One such measure was the addition of dog runs so guard dogs could quickly alert soldiers to intruders.

Watchtowers were also constructed, giving guards a clear view over the Death Strip and into West Berlin to monitor any activity on the other side. Trip wires, electric fences, and devices ominously called ‘Stalin’s Nails’ were placed throughout the strip to slow any escape attempts, giving the border guards a better chance of intercepting those who tried to flee.

The Final Phase

Starting in the mid-1970s, the East German government began a complete redesign of the Berlin Wall. This redesigned version is the one most people picture today—a 3.6-meter-tall barrier capped with a rounded concrete tube designed to thwart grappling hooks.

Along Bernauer Straße, in particular, the Border Area looked drastically different from just 15 years prior (see image 6). All the buildings along the street were now gone, and even a cemetery was moved to make way for the Death Strip—quite the ironic twist.

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the East German government still had an outstanding order for additional concrete panels. They canceled this order only eight days after the fall, citing ‘a change in military policy priorities.’

Where you can see and learn about the Berlin Wall today

If you’re looking for remnants of the Berlin Wall in Berlin today, my two favorite places to visit are the Wall Memorial along Bernauer Strasse and the East Side Gallery. Even better—both are free to explore!

At the Wall Memorial, you can see preserved sections of the original Wall, as well as a reconstructed portion of the Death Strip.

Meanwhile, the East Side Gallery showcases artworks from the 1990s, where artists expressed both reflections on the past and hopes for the future. It’s the longest open-air gallery in the world.

You can also join me on a Walking Tour of Berlin to learn more about the history of the Berlin Wall and the many daring escape attempts made over the years.