20th June 1948: The Western Allies introduce the Deutsche Mark in the three western zones of occupied Germany

The introduction of the Deutsch Mark sought to stabilise the German economy and curb widespread inflation and black-market activity in the aftermath of the Second World War, but caused concern in the Soviet Union which implemented its own currency reform in the eastern zone and soon after began the Berlin Blockade.

8th February 1950: The Stasi formally established in East Germany as the Ministry for State Security

The Stasi used blackmail, intimidation, and imprisonment, as well as psychological manipulation, to target perceived dissidents. By the time the organisation’s activities ended following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the Stasi was regarded as one of the most effective intelligence agencies of the Cold War era.

13th August 1961: Construction of the Berlin Wall begun by East German police and army, separating them from West Berlin

Over the following years the barbed wire and mesh barrier that was constructed overnight was gradually replaced with a virtually impregnable ring of reinforced concrete that ran 155km around West Berlin.