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

Uspon i pad Berlinskog zida - Konrad H. Jaruš

Prevodilac: Ivana Krivokuća Lektor: Tijana Mihajlović

U ranim jutarnjim časovima 13. avgusta 1961. godine

In the early hours of August 13, 1961,

East German construction workers flanked by soldiers and police

istočnonemački građevinski radnici pod okriljem vojske i policije

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

počeli su da razdvajaju ulice i postavljaju barijere širom grada Berlina

and its surroundings.

i njegovog okruženja.

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

Ova noć je označila početak

jedne od najozloglašenijih linija razdvajanja u istoriji,

the Berlin Wall.

Berlinskog zida.

Construction on the wall continued for the next decade

Izgradnja zida je nastavljena tokom naredne decenije

as it cut through neighborhoods,

dok je presecao naselja,

rastavljao porodice

separated families,

and divided not just Germany, but the world.

i delio ne samo Nemačku, već i svet.

To understand how we got to this point,

Da bismo razumeli kako smo stigli do ove tačke,

we have to go back to World War II.

moramo se vratiti u Drugi svetski rat.

America, Britain, and France

Amerika, Britanija i Francuska

joined forces with the Soviet Union against the Axis Powers.

udružile su snage sa Sovjetskim Savezom protiv sila Osovine.

After they defeated Nazi Germany,

Nakon što su pobedili nacističku Nemačku,

each of the victorious nations occupied part of the country.

svaka država-pobednica okupirala je deo zemlje.

The division was meant to be temporary,

Podela je trebalo da bude privremena,

but the former allies found themselves at odds

ali su se bivši saveznici našli u sukobu

over their visions for post-war Europe.

oko svojih vizija posleratne Evrope.

While Western powers promoted liberal market economies,

Dok su zapadne sile promovisale liberalnu ekonomiju tržišta,

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

Sovjetski Savez je nastojao da se okruži poslušnim komunističkim narodima,

including a weakened Germany.

uključujući oslabljenu Nemačku.

Kako su se njihovi odnosi pogoršali,

As their relations deteriorated,

the Federal Republic of Germany was formed in the West

Savezna Republika Nemačka formirana je na zapadu,

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

dok su Sovjeti uspostavili Nemačku Demokratsku Republiku na istoku.

The Soviet satellite countries restricted Western trade and movement,

Sovjetske satelitske države ograničile su zapadnu trgovinu i kretanje,

so a virtually impassable border formed.

tako da se formirala praktično neprohodna granica.

It became known as the Iron Curtain.

Postala je poznata kao Gvozdena zavesa.

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

U bivšoj nemačkoj prestonici, Berlinu, stvari su bile naročito komplikovane.

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

Iako je grad u potpunosti ležao unutar istočnonemačke teritorije NDR,

the post-war agreement gave the allies joint administration.

posleratni sporazum je dao saveznicima zajedničku upravu.

So America, Britain, and France created a Democratic enclave

Tako su Amerika, Britanija i Francuska stvorile demokratsku enklavu

in Berlin's western districts.

u zapadnim oblastima Berlina.

Dok je istočnim Nemcima bilo zvanično zabranjeno da napuštaju zemlju,

While East Germans were officially banned from leaving the country,

in Berlin, it was simply a matter of walking,

u Berlinu je to prosto bila stvar šetnje,

vožnje metroom, tramvajem ili autobusom

or riding a subway, streetcar or bus,

to the Western half,

do zapadne polovine,

then traveling on to West Germany or beyond.

a zatim putovanja do Zapadne Nemačke i dalje.

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

Ova otvorena granica predstavljala je problem za istočnonemačko rukovodstvo.

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

Izneli su tvrdnju da predstavljaju komunistički otpor protiv Hitlera

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

i prikazali Zapadnu Nemačku kao nastavak nacističkog režima.

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

Dok su SAD i saveznici ulagali novac u rekonstrukciju zapadne Nemačke,

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

Sovjetski Savez je izvlačio resurse sa istoka na ime ratne odštete,

making its planned economy even less competitive.

čime je njena planska ekonomija postala još manje konkurentna.

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

Život u Istočnoj Nemačkoj proticao je pod budnim okom Štazija,

tajne policije čije prisluškivanje i obaveštajci su pratili građane

the secret police whose wiretaps and informants monitored citizens

radi bilo kakvog nagoveštaja nelojalnosti.

for any hint of disloyalty.

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

Dok je na Istoku postojala besplatna zdravstvena zaštita i obrazovanje,

the West boasted higher salaries,

Zapad se hvalio većim zaradama,

more consumer goods,

većom količinom robe široke potrošnje

and greater personal freedom.

i većom ličnom slobodom.

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

Do 1961. godine, oko 3,5 miliona ljudi, gotovo 20% stanovništva Istočne Nemačke,

had left, including many young professionals.

otišlo je, uključujući i mnoge mlade stručnjake.

Da bi sprečila dalje gubitke,

To prevent further losses,

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

Istočna Nemačka je odlučila da zatvori granicu,

i tu nastupa Berlinski zid.

Extending for 43 kilometers through Berlin,

Šireći se 43 kilometra kroz Berlin

and a further 112 through East Germany,

i dodatnih 112 kroz Istočnu Nemačku,

početna barijera se sastojala od bodljikave žice i mrežaste ograde.

the initial barrier consisted of barbed wire and mesh fencing.

Neki stanovnici Berlina su pobegli skakanjem preko žice

Some Berliners escaped by jumping over the wire

or leaving from windows,

ili izlazeći kroz prozor,

but as the wall expanded, this became more difficult.

ali kako se zid širio, to je postalo teže.

Do 1965. godine, dodato je 106 kilometara betonskih barikada visokih 3,6 metra

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

topped with a smooth pipe to prevent climbing.

pokrivenih glatkom cevi kako bi se sprečilo penjanje.

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

Tokom narednih godina,

barijera je ojačana preprekama sa šiljcima,

guard dogs,

psima čuvarima,

and even landmines,

pa čak i nagaznim minama,

along with 302 watchtowers and 20 bunkers.

uz 302 osmatračnice i 20 bunkera.

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

Paralelna ograda sa zadnje strane

izdvojila je područje od 100 metara zvano pojas smrti.

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

Tamo su sve zgrade srušene i tlo je prekriveno peskom

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

da bi se obezbedio jasan pogled za stotine stražara

ordered to shoot anyone attempting to cross.

kojima je naređeno da pucaju u svakoga ko pokuša da pređe.

Ipak, gotovo 5 000 ljudi ukupno uspelo je da pobegne iz Istočne Nemačke

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

između 1961. i 1989. godine.

between 1961 and 1989.

Some were diplomats or athletes who defected while abroad,

Neki su bili diplomate ili sportisti

koji su dezertirali dok su bili u inostranstvu,

but others were ordinary citizens who dug tunnels,

a ostali su bili obični građani koji su kopali tunele,

swam across canals,

preplivavali kanale,

flew hot air balloons,

leteli vazdušnim balonima,

or even crashed a stolen tank through the wall.

pa čak bi se i obrušili ukradenim tenkom kroz zid.

No, rizik je bio veliki.

Yet the risk was great.

Over 138 people died while attempting escape.

Preko 138 ljudi je poginulo prilikom pokušaja bekstva.

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

Neki su upucani naočigled zapadnih Nemaca koji su bili nemoćni da im pomognu.

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

Zid je stabilizovao ekonomiju Istočne Nemačke

sprečavajući odlazak njene radne snage,

but tarnished its reputation,

ali je zadobio mračnu reputaciju,

postavši globalni simbol komunističke represije.

becoming a global symbol of Communist repression.

As part of reconciliation with the East,

Kao deo pomirenja sa Istokom,

the Basic Treaty of 1972 recognized East Germany pragmatically

Osnovni sporazum iz 1972. godine pragmatično je priznao Istočnu Nemačku,

while West Germany retained its hope for eventual reunification.

dok je Zapadna Nemačka nastavila da se nada

krajnjem ponovnom ujedinjenju.

Although the Eastern regime gradually allowed family visits,

Mada je istočni režim postepeno dozvolio porodične posete,

it tried to discourage people from exercising these rights

pokušao je da odvrati ljude od ostvarivanja tih prava

with an arduous bureaucratic process and high fees.

napornim birokratskim procesom i visokim troškovima.

Nonetheless, it was still overwhelmed by applications.

Bez obzira na to, ipak su bili preplavljeni zahtevima.

By the end of the 1980's,

Do kraja 1980-ih,

the liberalization of other Eastern Bloc regimes

liberalizacija drugih režima istočnog bloka

caused mass demonstrations for free travel and demands for democracy.

izazvala je masovne demonstracije za slobodno putovanje

i zahteve za demokratiju.

On the evening of November 9, 1989,

Uveče 9. novembra 1989. godine,

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

Istočna Nemačka pokušala je da smiri tenziju

omogućivši lakše pribavljanje putnih dozvola,

But the announcement brought thousands of East Berliners

ali ova objava je dovela hiljade istočnih Berlinaca

to the border crossing points in the wall,

do graničnih prelaza u zidu,

forcing the surprised guards to open the gates immediately.

koji su primorali iznenađene stražare da odmah otvore kapiju.

Rejoicing crowds poured into West Berlin

Vesela masa ljudi pohrlila je u Zapadni Berlin

as people from both sides danced atop the wall.

dok su ljudi sa obe strane igrali na vrhu zida.

Ostali su počeli da ga ruše kojim god oruđem koje su mogli naći.

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

Although the border guards initially tried to maintain order,

Iako su granični stražari u početku pokušavali da održe red,

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

uskoro je postalo jasno da je godinama podele došao kraj.

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

Nakon četiri decenije, Nemačka je zvanično ponovo ujedinjena oktobra 1990. godine.

And the Soviet Union fell soon after.

A Sovjetski Savez je pao ubrzo potom.

Today, parts of the wall still stand as a reminder

Danas delovi zida i dalje stoje kao podsetnik

da bilo kakvu barijeru koju postavimo da bismo sprečili slobodu

that any barriers we put up to impede freedom,

we can also break down.

takođe možemo srušiti.