Deseret News archives: Barbed Wire Sunday began 28 years of isolation for East Berliners

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

Aug. 13, 1961, on what would become known as Barbed Wire Sunday, East Germany sealed the border between Berlin’s eastern and western sectors before building a wall that would divide the city for the next 28 years.

According to historical accounts, the border was closed to prevent East Germans from migrating to the West. About 20% of the nation’s population had already defected to West Germany, due to a lack of security.

At midnight, construction on the beefed-up border, using more barbed wire, began. Berliners gathered in the streets near what would become the Berlin Wall.

Coverage in the West, including the Deseret News, was extensive.

Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about that moment in Germany, the Berlin Wall and its eventual collapse:

“ Wall of tension was erected 28 years ago”

“ The church and the Berlin Wall: President Uchtdorf recalls escape from East Germany, life with the wall ”

“ Germany marks 25 years since Berlin Wall’s fall ”

“ Thousands remember 1989 fall of Berlin Wall ”

“ Germany celebrates memory of Berlin Wall falling ”

“ Pieces of wall appear everywhere but Berlin ”

“ In our opinion: The collapse of the Berlin Wall brings its own set of obligations for Americans ”

“ Barbed wire still divides Hong Kong, China”