Operation Rose August 1961

• The FRG readily accepted GDR citizens who could legally cross into the western zones of Berlin. Many of these emigrants were young, skilled citizens whom the GDR could ill afford to lose. This was most likely due to the significantly better living standards and personal freedoms in the FRG.
• • Over 330000 fled the GDR to the FRG in 1953 after rebellions against the government had been brutally suppressed
  • Over 260000 in 1957
  • 155000 in the first 8 months of 1961
  • more than 2 million out of a total population of 18.5 million had migrated to the FRG
• Operation Rose was the codename given to the building of the Berlin Wall in August 1961. It was done in secret, beginning the night of the 12th August when a barrier was built, initially with little more than barbed wire. Those visiting the east because of its vibrant nightlife were escorted back across the border and any visiting the west could choose to stay. By the nest day, Berliners found travel was no longer possible between the eastern and western zones.
• The Berlin Wall was developed in ensuing weeks as a barrier of concrete blocks and watchtowers. It became more and more elaborate as time went on, eventually running for 97 miles around the 3 western sectors and 27 miles through the centre of Berlin. It compromised of a 4m high concrete wall, 30 watchtowers, guard dog tracks, tripwires and floodlights. Eventually, it was made up of 45000 separate blocks of concrete.
• Adenauer remained silent on the building of the wall. He was busy campaigning from the 1961 federal elections when he heard of its construction and delayed visiting the city for 9 days.
• Within West Berlin, 300000 Germans protested against the wall and the Mayor of Berlin, Willy Brandt, delivered a powerful speech condemning it. The USA sent an additional 1500 troops to Berlin to show solidarity, but the wall was built and there was little anyone could do about it.
• The wall eased cold war tensions:

  • both the USA and USSR effectively recognised that Germany was 2 separate countries and Berlin was divided
  • the flow of emigrants from the GDR was ended
• Although the wall evoked anger among the FRG, it actually stabilised the German situation. In the long term, the FRG continued to prosper economically and was firmly entrenched in the Western alliance system. Most citizens were not preoccupied with reunification, which was shown in the increasing indifference to the 'Day of German Unity'.
• Day of German Unity:

  In June 1953, a series of protests throughout the GDR, particularly in Berlin, was put down but Soviet troops. The FRG responded with the Day of German Unity, an annual public holiday on the 17th June to remember the event and hold events in support of unification. Within a few years, however, it had simply become a public holiday and the reasons behind it were largely forgotten.