Germany and Berlin divided into four occupation zones

After the unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945, Germany was divided into four military occupation zones.

France	in the southwest
Britain	in the northwest
The United States	in the south
The Soviet Union	in the east

Berlin, which lay in the Soviet (eastern) sector, was also divided into four military occupation sectors (zones) with the Western sectors later becoming West Berlin and the Soviet sector becoming East Berlin, capital of East Germany.

France	in the northwest
Britain	in the west
The United States	in the southwest
The Soviet Union	in the east

The city of Berlin was divided by the Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1989. It separated the eastern half from the western half. People from the eastern half tried to escape even though the Berlin Wall was there. They used many methods to get around the guards and barbed wire on the Berlin Wall.

The Berlin Wall was taken down on 9 November 1989. Many people thought the Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War. 

Germany - topography - cities

Kennedy - Ich bin ein Berliner

"Ich bin ein Berliner" is a quotation from a June 26, 1963, speech by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in West Berlin. He was underlining the support of the United States for West Germany 22 months after East Germany erected the Berlin Wall as a barrier to prevent movement between East and West. The message was a clear statement of U.S. policy in the wake of the construction of the Berlin Wall.

All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner!"

VIDEO - Kennedy - Ich bin ein Berliner