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

翻译人员: Amy Chen 校对人员: Lipeng Chen

1961年8月13日凌晨，

In the early hours of August 13, 1961,

East German construction workers flanked by soldiers and police

被士兵和政策阻拦 在一侧的东德建筑工人们

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

开始在柏林市和周边地区

and its surroundings.

挖地建墙。

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

这个夜晚标志着历史上 最声名狼藉的分界线的诞生，

the Berlin Wall.

柏林墙。

Construction on the wall continued for the next decade

柏林墙的建造持续了十几年，

as it cut through neighborhoods,

它穿过社区，

separated families,

拆散家庭，

and divided not just Germany, but the world.

它不仅分隔了德国， 更分裂了世界。

To understand how we got to this point,

为了理解这点，

we have to go back to World War II.

我们需要回顾一下第二次世界大战。

America, Britain, and France

美国，英国，法国

joined forces with the Soviet Union against the Axis Powers.

联合苏维埃政府 反抗轴心国（日本，意大利，德国）。

After they defeated Nazi Germany,

在他们打败了德国纳粹后，

each of the victorious nations occupied part of the country.

每个战胜国都夺取了 德国的部分地区。

The division was meant to be temporary,

地区瓜分一开始只是短暂的，

but the former allies found themselves at odds

但是（美英法）前联盟发现它们

over their visions for post-war Europe.

对二战后的欧洲 有着不同的前景展望。

While Western powers promoted liberal market economies,

西方势力主张市场自由经济，

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

但是苏联政府希望各邦国 忠实地走社会主义道路，

including a weakened Germany.

包括被削弱势力的德国。

As their relations deteriorated,

随着原联盟国关系的恶化，

the Federal Republic of Germany was formed in the West

德意志联邦共和国在德国西边建立，

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

苏联则在德国东侧 建立了德意志民主共和国。

The Soviet satellite countries restricted Western trade and movement,

苏维埃政府限制西方贸易和人口迁徙，

so a virtually impassable border formed.

一道无形的不可逾越的墙因此形成。

It became known as the Iron Curtain.

铁幕也由此而生。

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

前德国首都柏林的情况尤为复杂。

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

虽然柏林完全位于 德国东边的德意志民主共和国，

the post-war agreement gave the allies joint administration.

但是战后条约规定 柏林由所有联盟国行政。

So America, Britain, and France created a Democratic enclave

因此，美英法在柏林西边地区

in Berlin's western districts.

建造了民主飞地。

While East Germans were officially banned from leaving the country,

虽然东德人民 被正式禁止离开东德地区，

in Berlin, it was simply a matter of walking,

但是在柏林的人民，只需要走路，

or riding a subway, streetcar or bus,

坐地铁，电车或者巴士

to the Western half,

就能到达西德一侧，

then traveling on to West Germany or beyond.

然后进入西德甚至其他地区旅游。

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

这个开放的边界 给东德领导者带来了一个问题。

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

他们进一步强化了共产主义主张， 强烈抵制希特勒，

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

把西德描述成纳粹主义的延续。

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

在美国和其联盟国 大量投资西德重建的时候，

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

苏联政府则不断从东德获取资源 作为战后补偿，

making its planned economy even less competitive.

这使得（苏联的） 计划经济更缺乏竞争性。

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

东德人民无不生活在 斯塔西的法眼下，

the secret police whose wiretaps and informants monitored citizens

这个秘密警察组织 利用窃听器和线人监视人民，

for any hint of disloyalty.

以防任何一点的背叛。

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

虽然东德有免费的医疗保健和教育，

the West boasted higher salaries,

西德却有更高的工资，

more consumer goods,

更多消费品，

and greater personal freedom.

和更大的人身自由。

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

到1961年，大约有350万人， 将近20%的东德人口

had left, including many young professionals.

逃离东德，包括年轻的专业人士。

To prevent further losses,

为了防止进一步的流失，

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

东德政府决定封闭边境线， 这就是柏林墙开始的地方。

Extending for 43 kilometers through Berlin,

柏林市内长达43公里，

and a further 112 through East Germany,

加上贯穿其他东德地区 长达112公里的柏林墙，

一开始是由带刺铁丝网 和带有网孔的栅栏组成。

the initial barrier consisted of barbed wire and mesh fencing.

仍有一些柏林人要么跳过铁丝网

Some Berliners escaped by jumping over the wire

or leaving from windows,

要么跳窗逃离东德。

but as the wall expanded, this became more difficult.

但是随着城墙的建立， 这种逃离方式变的更加困难。

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

到1965年，106公里长， 3.6米高的混凝土城墙建成，

topped with a smooth pipe to prevent climbing.

城墙上方覆有顺滑的管道 来防止攀爬。

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

在接下来的几年里，钉刺带，警卫犬，

guard dogs,

甚至地雷都被用来

and even landmines,

加强城墙的防御力，

along with 302 watchtowers and 20 bunkers.

此外还有302个瞭望台和 20个地堡昼夜巡视。

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

在城墙后面还有一个由平行的栅栏 围成的宽100米的死亡带。

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

在那里，所有的建筑都被拆除， 地标被沙子覆盖，

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

为成百上千的警卫提供清晰的视线，

ordered to shoot anyone attempting to cross.

这些警卫被命令 枪杀任何一个想逃跑的人。

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

尽管如此，1961到1989年间， 还有大约5000人

成功逃离了东德。

between 1961 and 1989.

Some were diplomats or athletes who defected while abroad,

其中一些人是外交官或者运动员， 他们在出国的时候叛逃，

but others were ordinary citizens who dug tunnels,

但是剩下的都是普通百姓， 他们挖地道，

swam across canals,

游泳横穿运河，

flew hot air balloons,

乘坐热气球，

or even crashed a stolen tank through the wall.

甚至开着偷来的坦克冲破界限。

但是风险依然很高。

Yet the risk was great.

Over 138 people died while attempting escape.

超过138人在试图逃离时丧命。

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

西德人民眼睁睁地望着那么被枪杀的 逃跑者，却爱莫能助。

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

柏林墙防止了劳动力流失， 以此巩固了东德的经济，

but tarnished its reputation,

但是损毁了它的名誉，

因此成为了共产主义 剥削的全球性象征。

becoming a global symbol of Communist repression.

As part of reconciliation with the East,

作为和东德和解的一部分，

the Basic Treaty of 1972 recognized East Germany pragmatically

1972年的《基础条约》 在实际上承认了东德的存在，

while West Germany retained its hope for eventual reunification.

但是西德仍抱有最终统一的希望。

Although the Eastern regime gradually allowed family visits,

虽然东边的政权逐渐允许亲属探望，

it tried to discourage people from exercising these rights

但它用复杂的申请过程和高昂的费用

with an arduous bureaucratic process and high fees.

试图阻拦人们行使这个权利。

Nonetheless, it was still overwhelmed by applications.

尽管如此，还是吸引了大批申请者。

By the end of the 1980's,

在80年代末，

the liberalization of other Eastern Bloc regimes

其他的东边区域政权的自由化

caused mass demonstrations for free travel and demands for democracy.

导致了大规模的游行示威， 旨在寻求自由探视和民主。

On the evening of November 9, 1989,

1989年11月9日晚上，

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

东德试图通过简化旅游通证来 缓和紧张关系。

But the announcement brought thousands of East Berliners

但是通告却使成千上万的东柏林人民

to the border crossing points in the wall,

穿过重重障碍来到柏林墙，

forcing the surprised guards to open the gates immediately.

强迫被惊吓到的警卫立即打开大门。

Rejoicing crowds poured into West Berlin

伴随着两边人民在城墙上欢呼，

as people from both sides danced atop the wall.

激动万分的人群纷纷涌入西柏林。

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

还有一些人开始使用他们能找到的 任何工具来拆除城墙。

Although the border guards initially tried to maintain order,

虽然一开始警卫还试图维持秩序，

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

但是很快他们明白 多年的东西隔离已经结束。

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

四十年后，在1990年的10月， 德国正式统一。

And the Soviet Union fell soon after.

苏维埃政权随后很快没落。

Today, parts of the wall still stand as a reminder

今天，部分城墙依旧挺立在那儿， 成为了一种警示，

that any barriers we put up to impede freedom,

任何人为对自由设置的障碍，

we can also break down.

我们都能将其拆除。