“The Berlin Wall (German: Berliner Mauer) was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin. The barrier included guard towers placed along large concrete walls, which circumscribed a wide area (later known as the “death strip”) that contained anti-vehicle trenches, “fakir beds” and other defenses. The Soviet-dominated Eastern Bloc officially claimed that the wall was erected to protect its population from fascist elements conspiring to prevent the “will of the people” in building a socialist state in East Germany. However, in practice, the Wall served to prevent the massive emigration and defection that marked Germany and the communist Eastern Bloc during the post-World War II period”. – Wikipedia

Photo: West Berlin policemen and East German Volkspolizei face each other across the border in Berlin, circa 1955. (Photo by Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Kira Walkenhorst of Germany (L) signals as Doaa Elghobashy of Egypt (R) watches during the women's Beach Volleyball preliminary pool D game between Ludwig/Walkenhors of Germany and Elghobashy/Nada of Egypt the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Beach Volleyball Arena on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 07 August 2016. (Photo by Antonio Lacerda/ANSA)

Locals dressed as “Perchten”, a traditional demonic creature in German and Austrian Alpine folklore, parade through the town center during the annual “Rauhnacht” gathering on January 5, 2017 in Waldkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

Arctic wolves in their new enclosure in the wildlife park in Hanau, Germany, 10 February 2015. The pack is one of the park's main attractions, which specializes in local and European breeds. (Photo by Boris Roessler/EPA)

Models present creations by fashion design students of the Taiwanese Shih Chien university at the Berlin Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2016 in Berlin, Germany, January 22, 2016. (Photo by Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

German car manufacturer BMW presents the “Vision Next 100” concept car during the 100th anniversary celebrations in Munich, Germany, Monday, March 7, 2016. (Photo by Matthias Schrader/AP Photo)

Heidi Klum direct a photoshoot for “Germany's Next Top Model” on set filming on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, USA on January 25, 2017. (Photo by Splash News and Picture)

Cheerleaders let their hair fly as they perform prior to a German first division Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Cologne and Bayern Munich in Cologne, Germany, March 4, 2017. (Photo by Michael Probst/AP Photo)