The rise and fall of the Berlin Wall - Konrad H. Jarausch

Translator: Lanny Yunita Reviewer: Sarmoko Sarmoko

In the early hours of August 13, 1961,

Dini hari tanggal 13 Agustus 1961,

East German construction workers flanked by soldiers and police

para pekerja bangunan Jerman Timur dijaga ketat oleh prajurit dan polisi

began tearing up streets and erecting barriers throughout the city of Berlin

mulai membongkar jalan dan membangun penghalang di sepanjang kota Berlin,

and its surroundings.

juga daerah di sekitarnya.

This night marked the beginning of one of history's most infamous dividing lines,

Malam itu menjadi awal dari salah satu garis pembatas paling keji dalam sejarah,

the Berlin Wall.

Tembok Berlin.

Construction on the wall continued for the next decade

Pembangunan tembok berlanjut sampai dekade berikutnya,

as it cut through neighborhoods,

menerobos daerah pemukiman,

separated families,

memisahkan banyak keluarga,

and divided not just Germany, but the world.

dan tak hanya membagi Jerman, tapi juga dunia.

To understand how we got to this point,

Untuk memahami peristiwa ini,

we have to go back to World War II.

kita harus menilik kembali Perang Dunia II.

America, Britain, and France

Amerika, Britania Raya, dan Perancis

joined forces with the Soviet Union against the Axis Powers.

menyatukan pasukan bersama Uni Soviet melawan Blok Poros.

After they defeated Nazi Germany,

Setelah mengalahkan Jerman Nazi,

each of the victorious nations occupied part of the country.

tiap negara pemenang tersebut menduduki sebagian negeri.

The division was meant to be temporary,

Pemisahan itu awalnya hanya sementara,

but the former allies found themselves at odds

tapi bekas pihak sekutu tersebut berselisih

over their visions for post-war Europe.

terhadap visi mereka untuk Eropa pascaperang.

While Western powers promoted liberal market economies,

Di saat kekuatan Barat mendorong ekonomi pasar bebas,

the Soviet Union sought to surround itself with obedient Communist nations,

Uni Soviet menutup dirinya sebagai bangsa komunis yang taat,

including a weakened Germany.

termasuk Jerman yang dikalahkan.

As their relations deteriorated,

Karena hubungan mereka memburuk,

the Federal Republic of Germany was formed in the West

dibentuk Republik Federal Jerman di barat,

while the Soviets established the German Democratic Republic in the East.

sementara Soviet mendirikan Republik Demokratik Jerman (GDR) di timur.

The Soviet satellite countries restricted Western trade and movement,

Negara satelit Soviet itu membatasi perdagangan dan pergerakan Barat,

so a virtually impassable border formed.

sehingga terbentuk batas yang hampir tak dapat dilalui.

It became known as the Iron Curtain.

Lalu dikenal dengan sebutan Tirai Besi.

In the former German capital of Berlin, things were particularly complicated.

Di ibukota awal Jerman, Berlin, segalanya menjadi rumit.

Although the city lay fully within the East German territory of the GDR,

Meski kota itu sepenuhnya terletak di Jerman Timur bagian dari wilayah GDR,

the post-war agreement gave the allies joint administration.

perjanjian pascaperang membolehkan pihak sekutu ikut dalam pemerintahan.

So America, Britain, and France created a Democratic enclave

Maka Amerika, Britania Raya, dan Perancis membentuk daerah kantong

in Berlin's western districts.

di dalam wilayah Berlin Barat.

While East Germans were officially banned from leaving the country,

Orang Jerman Timur secara resmi dilarang meninggalkan negeri,

in Berlin, it was simply a matter of walking,

namun di Berlin, orang bebas bepergian

or riding a subway, streetcar or bus,

dengan kereta bawah tanah, trem, atau bus,

to the Western half,

ke Berlin bagian barat itu,

then traveling on to West Germany or beyond.

lalu menuju Jerman Barat, atau daerah Eropa lainnya.

This open border posed a problem for the East German leadership.

Batas terbuka ini menimbulkan masalah bagi pimpinan Jerman Timur.

They had staked a claim to represent the Communist resistance against Hitler

Mereka mengklaim mewakili perlawanan Komunis terhadap Hitler,

and portrayed Western Germany as a continuation of the Nazi regime.

dan menggambarkan Jerman Barat sebagai kelanjutan dari rezim Nazi.

While the U.S. and its allies poured money into West Germany's reconstruction,

Saat AS dan sekutu mengucurkan dana besar untuk rekonstruksi Jerman Barat,

the Soviet Union extracted resources from the East as war reparations,

Uni Soviet mengeruk kekayaan Jerman Timur sebagai pampasan perang,

making its planned economy even less competitive.

membuat perencanaan ekonomi menjadi kurang kompetitif.

Life in East Germany passed under the watchful eye of the Stasi,

Kehidupan di Jerman Timur berada di bawah pengawasan Stasi,

the secret police whose wiretaps and informants monitored citizens

yaitu polisi rahasia yang punya penyadap dan mata-mata yang mengawasi masyarakat

for any hint of disloyalty.

jika ada tanda-tanda ketidaksetiaan.

While there was free health care and education in the East,

Sementara di Timur membebaskan biaya kesehatan dan pendidikan,

the West boasted higher salaries,

di Barat membanggakan upah yang tinggi,

more consumer goods,

barang-barang lebih banyak,

and greater personal freedom.

dan kebebasan pribadi yang lebih besar.

By 1961, about 3.5 million people, nearly 20% of the East German population,

Hingga 1961, sekitar 3,5 juta orang, atau hampir 20% penduduk Jerman Timur,

had left, including many young professionals.

telah pergi, termasuk para profesional muda.

To prevent further losses,

Untuk mencegah kerugian,

East Germany decided to close the border, and that's where the Berlin Wall came in.

Jerman Timur menutup perbatasan, dari sanalah Tembok Berlin muncul.

Extending for 43 kilometers through Berlin,

Membentang 43 kilometer menembus Berlin,

and a further 112 through East Germany,

serta 112 km sepanjang Jerman Timur,

the initial barrier consisted of barbed wire and mesh fencing.

awalnya batas itu dibuat dari kawat duri dan pagar yang terhubung.

Some Berliners escaped by jumping over the wire

Beberapa orang Berlin melarikan diri melompati kawat itu,

or leaving from windows,

atau lompat dari jendela,

but as the wall expanded, this became more difficult.

tapi seiring tembok diperluas, semakin sulit diterabas.

By 1965, 106 kilometers of 3.6-meter-high concrete barricades had been added

Hingga 1965, barikade beton 106 km setinggi 3,6 meter telah dibangun

topped with a smooth pipe to prevent climbing.

beserta pipa licin di atasnya untuk mencegah orang melompatinya.

Over the coming years, the barrier was strengthened with spike strips,

Tahun-tahun berikutnya, penghalang itu diperketat dengan paku besar,

guard dogs,

anjing penjaga,

and even landmines,

bahkan ranjau darat,

along with 302 watchtowers and 20 bunkers.

serta 302 menara pengawas, dan 20 bungker.

A parallel fence in the rear set off a 100-meter area called the death strip.

Pagar sejajar sepanjang 100 meter dinamakan bidang kematian.

There, all buildings were demolished and the ground covered with sand

Di sana, semua bangunan dihancurkan, dan tanah dilapisi pasir

to provide a clear line of sight for the hundreds of guards

supaya para penjaga bisa mengawasi dengan leluasa,

ordered to shoot anyone attempting to cross.

mengancam dengan menembak bagi yang berusaha melintasinya.

Nevertheless, nearly 5,000 people in total managed to flee East Germany

Meski begitu, hampir 5.000 orang berhasil melarikan diri dari Jerman Timur

between 1961 and 1989.

antara 1961 dan 1989.

Some were diplomats or athletes who defected while abroad,

Di antaranya diplomat atau atlet yang membelot saat mereka di luar negeri,

but others were ordinary citizens who dug tunnels,

tapi yang lain hanyalah orang biasa yang menggali terowongan,

swam across canals,

berenang melintasi parit,

flew hot air balloons,

terbang dengan balon udara,

or even crashed a stolen tank through the wall.

atau bahkan menabrakkan tank curian ke tembok.

Yet the risk was great.

Risikonya memang besar.

Over 138 people died while attempting escape.

Lebih dari 138 orang tewas, saat berusaha melarikan diri.

Some shot in full view of West Germans powerless to help them.

Beberapa tertembak tanpa ada kuasa menolong dari Jerman Barat.

The wall stabilized East Germany's economy by preventing its work force from leaving,

Tembok memantapkan ekonomi Jerman Timur dengan mencegah kaburnya tenaga kerja,

but tarnished its reputation,

tapi tembok itu sungguh memalukan,

becoming a global symbol of Communist repression.

serta menjadi simbol dunia akan penindasan Komunis.

As part of reconciliation with the East,

Sebagai tanda perdamaian dengan bagian Timur,

the Basic Treaty of 1972 recognized East Germany pragmatically

dalam Perjanjian Dasar 1972, Jerman Timur diakui secara pragmatis,

while West Germany retained its hope for eventual reunification.

sementara Jerman Barat tetap berharap nantinya akan terjadi penyatuan kembali.

Although the Eastern regime gradually allowed family visits,

Rezim Timur perlahan-lahan mengizinkan kunjungan keluarga,

it tried to discourage people from exercising these rights

tapi dibuat aturan untuk menghalangi menggunakan hak ini

with an arduous bureaucratic process and high fees.

melalui proses birokrasi yang sulit, dan biaya yang mahal.

Nonetheless, it was still overwhelmed by applications.

Namun, itu tidak menyurutkan pengajuan.

By the end of the 1980's,

Hingga akhir 1980-an,

the liberalization of other Eastern Bloc regimes

kebebasan rezim Blok Timur lainnya

caused mass demonstrations for free travel and demands for democracy.

menyebabkan demo besar untuk perjalanan bebas dan tuntutan demokrasi.

On the evening of November 9, 1989,

Pada 9 November 1989 malam,

East Germany tried to defuse tension by making travel permits easier to obtain.

Jerman Timur berusaha melepas ketegangan dengan memudahkan izin perjalanan.

But the announcement brought thousands of East Berliners

Tapi pengumuman tersebut membawa ribuan orang Berlin Timur

to the border crossing points in the wall,

menuju titik perlintasan tembok perbatasan,

forcing the surprised guards to open the gates immediately.

memaksa para penjaga untuk segera membuka gerbang.

Rejoicing crowds poured into West Berlin

Kerumunan orang yang bergembira menuju Berlin Barat,

as people from both sides danced atop the wall.

saat orang-orang dari kedua belah sisi menari di atas tembok.

And others began to demolish it with whatever tools they could find.

Sementara yang lain berusaha menghancurkannya dengan alat apa pun.

Although the border guards initially tried to maintain order,

Meskipun penjaga perbatasan mencoba menjaga ketertiban,

it was soon clear that the years of division were at an end.

akhirnya pemisahan bertahun-tahun itu telah berakhir.

After four decades, Germany was officially reunified in October 1990.

Setelah empat dekade, Jerman secara resmi menyatu pada Oktober 1990.

And the Soviet Union fell soon after.

Uni Soviet juga tumbang setelah itu.

Today, parts of the wall still stand as a reminder

Kini, sebagian tembok itu masih berdiri sebagai pengingat,

that any barriers we put up to impede freedom,

bahwa rintangan apa pun yang menghalangi kebebasan,

we can also break down.

bisa kita hancurkan.