While the wall was erected by the GDR, the initial ideal was suggested for the first time by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in a phone call between him and East German SED leader Walter Albrecht on August 1, 1961. read more
While it was presumably not Ulbricht's idea to erect a wall, he favoured the idea of closing the border in Berlin, too. While Khrushchev was initially worried about the US reaction to erecting a wall, Kennedy indicated to him that the US would not actively oppose to this measure. read more
This too had an adverse effect on the East German economy The official reason given by the ruling SED party in East Germany for the building of the wall was to prevent revanchists and agitators entering East Berlin and East Germany and referred to the wall officially as " antifaschistischer Schutzwall" (anti-fascist barricade). read more