Curated OER
Perceptions of German Unification Over Time
Through a series of readings and handouts, learners will study the shifts in perception that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. The history lesson focuses on periods of change in post WWII German history that led to a changed...
George Mason University
Chnm: Making the History of 1989
Excellent online resource that through the use of primary sources and scholar interviews, focuses on the historical events of 1989 that deal with the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. Great teacher resource with lesson plans...
BBC
Bbc: 1989: East German Leader Ousted
This BBC article describes how popular unrest which lead to the ousting of East Germany leader Erich Honecker. Examines protests on the part of East German citizens and Gorbachev's decision to remove Honecker.
Digital History
Digital History: The Dealth of Stalin and the Cold War
In March 1953, Joseph Stalin, who had ruled the Soviet Union since 1928, died at the age of 73. His feared minister of internal affairs, Lavrenti Pavlovich Beria, was subsequently shot for treason. Nikita Khrushchev then became first...
PBS
Pbs: Commanding Heights the Battle for the World Economy
A huge site dedicated to an understanding of the current global economic system. Includes the history, forces, values and perceptions that have shaped the world's economy. A comprehensive resource that includes a detailed economic report...
PBS
Pbs: People Power
A personal interview from someone who was actually there at the historic event can tell so much more than a history book. Read an interview with a citizen of East Germany at the time of the destruction of the Berlin Wall.
PBS
Commanding Heights
This timeline of East Germany from 1945 to 1990 chronicles key events from communist domination to political and economic freedom with the end of the Cold War and the dismantling of the Berlin Wall.
Other
German Propaganda: Gdr Carictures From 1953
Thumbnailed images with explanations of pieces of propaganda created for or by the German Communist Party or the GDR.
Other
Calvin College: German Propaganda Archive (East Germany)
This site provides links to primary source Cold War propaganda from East Germany.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Truman: Foreign Affairs
This site gives a great overview of the early Cold War under President Truman. Describes relations with the Soviet Union, the atomic bomb, actions in western Europe, and the Korean War. A great piece that gives the reader a fantastic...
Other
Chronik Der Wende: The Fall of the Wall
This resource follows the events pertaining to The Fall of the Berlin Wall between October 1989 until March of 1990. Just click on any day and you can read what happened that day and see pictures.
Library of Congress
Loc: Country Study: Germany, East (Former)
U.S. Government report on the history, society, economy and government of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) from its establishment in 1949 until 1987, or two years before the fall of the Berlin Wall and four years before...
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Woodrow Wilson Center: Digital Archive: East German Uprising
A collection of primary source documents related to the East German uprising of June 1953.
Google Cultural Institute
Google Cultural Institute: The Fall of the Wall
Pictorial essay combines photos and video to tell the story of the fall of the wall in Berlin in 1989.
Google Cultural Institute
Google Cultural Institute: Years of Change
A visual chronology of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Cold War, in East Germany from diary excerpts, historical snippets, and photographs. The German Reunification period ran from 1989-1991.
Google Cultural Institute
Google Cultural Institute: Herbst 1989 Als Die Mauer Fiel
Explore this photographic online exhibit detailing the story behind the fall of the Berlin Wall.
CommonLit
Common Lit: East German Man Receives Contest Prize 45 Years Later
CommonLit.org is a wonderful resource to use in a Language Arts classroom. Each story or article is accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. In addition, students can click on words to see...
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Jfk Presidential Library and Museum: The Cold War in Berlin
Article explores the division of Germany and Berlin into two zones, East and West, and delves into President Kennedy's relationship with the Soviets during the Cold War. On June 26, 1963, President Kennedy delivered an explosive speech...
Other
National Cold War Exhibition: Which Countries Were Involved?
Resource examines the role of various countries during the Cold War. Click on the flags to see the information about the specific countries.
Mother Earth Travel
Mother Earth Travel: History of Germany: Historical Setting: 1945 to 1990
Germany was divided in two by the Berlin Wall, built in 1961. Understand the environment between the two sides and what led to unification in 1990.
Mother Earth Travel
Mother Earth Travel: History of Germany: The Ulbricht Era, 1949 71
An account of the years Walter Ulbricht was a Communist leader in East Germany after coming out of exile from World War II. Discover what happened during his time holding high positions within the KPD.
Mother Earth Travel
Mother Earth Travel: Christian Democrat/christian Socialist Free Democrat
Find the background of the Christian Democratics and Christian Socialist-Free Democratic Coalition which slowly led to peace between East and West Germany by the mid-1980's.
Mother Earth Travel
Mother Earth Travel:history of Germany: The Honecker Era, 1971 89
Communist Erich Honecker replaced Ulbricht as the leader of East Germany in 1971. This accounts the history of the last years of the divided Germany.
Other
Calvin College: Nazi and East German Propaganda
This collection of visual and printed propaganda material from 1933 to 1989 centers around the rise of the Nazi Party, World War II from the Nazi perspective, and East German Communism.