Selection: H-32

H-32

Grade level: 8

Word count: 2030 words

Author: Anna Fisher

Synopsis: Many people escaped from East Germany through tunnels under the Berlin Wall, but some did not make it.

Excerpt: "It's the anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall," Gram unexpectedly remarked, as Maggie started back into the kitchen. "Do you know about the wall that separated West Berlin from East Berlin?"

Maggie paused and faced her grandmother. "Of course, Gram, we studied the Cold War in history class. People from the eastern side couldn't escape, while those on the western side were free."

Then, one day, we watched as members of the Soviet militia brought out rolls of barbed wire, stringing it along the east-west border. Living conditions had worsened in East Germany, as the economic situation became bleak; in fact, government officials forced people to work on state-owned farms because there was a food shortage.

Question: In which two ways were the lives of people in East Berlin different from those in West Berlin?

1. East Berliners could not travel freely to and from the area.
2. East Berliners experienced shortages of food.
3. East Berliners were not permitted to get an education.
4. East Berliners had to turn in all their valuables to the government.
5. East Berliners had no means of sending letters through the mail.