This resulted in numerous civilian casualties and even some unique stories - such as two families, who successfully crossed the border using a hot air balloon in 1979.
Over the course of 30 years divided, life in East and West Germany grew increasingly divergent from each other. West Germany was far wealthier than their eastern counterparts, likely due to significant financial support from the United States. East Germans did not have access to certain goods - such as a variety of foodstuffs, advancing technologies, and other luxury items. A colleague of mine from school once told me that when he was 18 and still living in East Germany, he had signed up to purchase a car, but the standard waiting period for receiving one was an estimated 12 years!
Leipzig has a unique past as part of the former GDR. Specifically, it was one of many cities where the "Stasi" or East German Secret Police, were everywhere. The Stasi was once a robust organization of politicians and military personnel who recruited ordinary citizens to spy on each other, and report anyone who was suspected of going against the East German state. It was an organization specifically designed to enforce a socialist regime and control both the behavior and ideology of citizens. I learned more about these bleak histories when I visited the former Stasi headquarters here in Leipzig, now called "The Museum in the Round Corner."
Whereas Leipzig has many sad memories from it's time as part of the GDR, it played a large role in the "Peaceful Revolution" that eventually led to the reunification of East and West Germany in 1989. The Nikolaikirche (Chruch of St.
