East German construction workers flanked by soldiers and police

東德建築工人在阿兵哥和警察的簇擁下前進。

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

開始在柏林市內撕毀街道和設置障礙物。

and its surroundings.

及其周圍環境。

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

這個夜晚標誌著歷史上最臭名昭著的分界線之一的開始。

the Berlin Wall.

柏林牆。

Construction on the wall continued for the next decade

在接下來的十年裡，城牆的建設仍在繼續

as it cut through neighborhoods,

當它穿過街區時。

separated families,

離散家庭；

and divided not just Germany, but the world.

並且不僅分裂了德國，還分裂了世界。

To understand how we got to this point,

要了解我們是如何走到這一步的。

we have to go back to World War II.

我們必須回到第二次世界大戰。

America, Britain, and France

美英法

joined forces with the Soviet Union against the Axis Powers.

與蘇聯聯手對抗軸心國。

After they defeated Nazi Germany,

在他們打敗納粹德國之後。

each of the victorious nations occupied part of the country.

每一個戰勝國都佔據了部分國土。

The division was meant to be temporary,

師的意思是暫時的。

but the former allies found themselves at odds

昔日盟友不和

over their visions for post-war Europe.

在他們對戰後歐洲的設想上。

While Western powers promoted liberal market economies,

在西方大國推行自由市場經濟的同時。

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

蘇聯試圖用聽話的共產主義國家來包圍自己。

including a weakened Germany.

包括被削弱的德國。

As their relations deteriorated,

隨著他們關係的惡化。

the Federal Republic of Germany was formed in the West

德意志聯邦共和國在西德成立。

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

而蘇聯則在東部建立了德意志民主共和國。

The Soviet satellite countries restricted Western trade and movement,

蘇聯衛星國家限制了西方的貿易和流動。

so a virtually impassable border formed.

所以形成了一個幾乎無法通行的邊界。

It became known as the Iron Curtain.

它被稱為鐵幕。

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

在前德國首都柏林，情況特別複雜。

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

雖然這座城市完全在東德的東德境內。

the post-war agreement gave the allies joint administration.

戰後協議給了盟國聯合管理的權利。

So America, Britain, and France created a Democratic enclave

所以美英法三國建立了一個民主飛地

in Berlin's western districts.

在柏林'的西區。

While East Germans were officially banned from leaving the country,

雖然東德人被正式禁止出國。

in Berlin, it was simply a matter of walking,

在柏林，這只是一個步行的問題。

or riding a subway, streetcar or bus,

或乘坐地鐵、街車或公車。

to the Western half,

到西半部。

then traveling on to West Germany or beyond.

然後前往西德或更遠的地方。

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

這種開放的邊界給東德領導層帶來了一個問題。

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

他們聲稱代表共產黨抵抗希特勒的力量

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

並把西德描繪成納粹政權的延續。

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

當美國及其盟友向西德的重建投入資金時'。

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

蘇聯從東方提取資源作為戰爭賠償。

making its planned economy even less competitive.

使其計劃經濟的競爭力更低。

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

東德的生活在斯塔西的監視下度過。

the secret police whose wiretaps and informants monitored citizens

祕密警察

for any hint of disloyalty.

任何不忠誠的暗示。

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

雖然東方有免費的醫療和教育。

the West boasted hire salaries,

西方吹噓的僱傭工資。

more consumer goods,

更多的消費品。

and greater personal freedom.

和更大的個人自由。

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

到1961年，約350萬人，佔東德人口的近20%。

had left, including many young professionals.

已經離開，包括許多年輕的專業人員。

To prevent further losses,

為了防止進一步的損失。

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

東德決定關閉邊界，這就是柏林牆的作用。

Extending for 43 kilometers through Berlin,

延伸43公里穿過柏林。

and a further 112 through East Germany,

並且進一步在東德境內延伸了112公里。

the initial barrier consisted of barbed wire and mesh fencing.

最初的屏障由鐵絲網和網狀圍欄組成。

Some Berliners escaped by jumping over the wire

一些柏林人跳過鐵絲網逃過一劫

or leaving from windows,

或從窗口離開。

but as the wall expanded, this became more difficult.

但隨著牆體的擴大，這一點變得更加困難。

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

到1965年，增加了106公里3.6米高的水泥路障。

topped with a smooth pipe to prevent climbing.

頂上用光滑的管子，防止攀爬。

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

在接下來的幾年裡，用釘條加固了屏障。

guard dogs,

警犬。

and even landmines,

甚至地雷。

along with 302 watchtowers and 20 bunkers.

以及302個瞭望塔和20個地堡。

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

後面的平行柵欄襯托出一個100米的區域，稱為死亡地帶。

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

在那裡，所有的建築物都被拆除了，地面上鋪滿了沙子。

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

為數百名衛兵提供清晰的視線。

ordered to shoot anyone attempting to cross.

命令射殺任何試圖越境的人。

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

然而，總共有近5,000人設法逃離了東德。

between 1961 and 1989.

1961年至1989年期間。

Some were diplomats or athletes who defected while abroad,

有的是在國外叛逃的外交官或運動員。

but others were ordinary citizens who dug tunnels,

但其他人都是挖地道的普通市民。

swam across canals,

遊過運河。

flew hot air balloons,

飛了熱氣球。

or even crashed a stolen tank through the wall.

甚至將一輛偷來的坦克撞破牆壁。

Yet the risk was great.

然而風險很大。

Over 138 people died while attempting escape.

超過138人在試圖逃跑時死亡。

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

有些人在西德人無力幫助他們的情況下被槍殺。

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

隔離牆阻止了東德的勞動力離開，穩定了東德的經濟'。

but tarnished its reputation,

卻玷汙了它的名聲。

becoming a global symbol of Communist repression.

成為共產黨鎮壓的全球象徵。

As part of reconciliation with the East,

作為與東方和解的一部分。

the Basic Treaty of 1972 recognized East Germany pragmatically

1972年基本條約》對東德的承認是實事求是的。

while West Germany retained its hope for eventual reunification.

而西德則保留了最終統一的希望。

Although the Eastern regime gradually allowed family visits,

雖然東方政權逐漸允許探親。

it tried to discourage people from exercising these rights

它試圖阻止人們行使這些權利；

with an arduous bureaucratic process and high fees.

官僚程序繁瑣，費用高昂。

Nonetheless, it was still overwhelmed by applications.

儘管如此，它仍然被申請所淹沒。

By the end of the 1980's,

到20世紀80年代末'年代。

the liberalization of other Eastern Bloc regimes

其他東歐國家政權的自由化；

caused mass demonstrations for free travel and demands for democracy.

引起了要求自由旅行和要求民主的民眾示威。

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.

東德試圖通過使旅行許可更容易獲得來化解緊張局勢。

But the announcement brought thousands of East Berliners

但這個消息讓成千上萬的東柏林人

to the border crossing points in the wall,

牆的過境點。

forcing the surprised guards to open the gates immediately.

迫使驚訝的守衛立即打開大門。

Rejoicing crowds poured into West Berlin

歡慶的人群湧入西柏林。

as people from both sides danced atop the wall.

當雙方的人在城牆上跳舞時。

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

而其他人則開始用他們能找到的任何工具拆除它。

Although the border guards initially tried to maintain order,

雖然邊防軍最初試圖維持秩序。

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

很快，多年的分裂就結束了。

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

40年後，德國於1990年10月正式統一。

And the Soviet Union fell soon after.

而蘇聯很快就垮臺了。

Today, parts of the wall still stand as a reminder

今天，部分牆體仍在提醒著我們

that any barriers we put up to impede freedom,

我們設置的任何障礙都會妨礙自由。

we can also break down.

我們也可以分解。