Between 1945 and 1961, some 2.5 million had fled in this way, reducing the GDR’s
population by around 15 per cent. Ominously for the Communist regime, most
emigrants were young and well qualified
The country was losing the cream of its
educated professionals and skilled workers at a rate that risked making the
Communist state unviable.
During the summer of 1961, this exodus reached
critical levels. Hence, on that fateful August weekend, the Communists’ vast
undertaking to seal off East from West Berlin, to close the ‘escape hatch’.
Between 1945 and 1961, some 2.5 million had fled in this way, reducing the GDR’spopulation by around 15 per cent. Ominously for the Communist regime, mostemigrants were young and well qualified The country was losing the cream of itseducated professionals and skilled workers at a rate that risked making theCommunist state unviable.During the summer of 1961, this exodus reachedcritical levels. Hence, on that fateful August weekend, the Communists’ vastundertaking to seal off East from West Berlin, to close the ‘escape hatch’.
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