By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

The rise of communism can be seen everywhere in Berlin, a city divided by two ideologies after World War II. A double line of bricks down the boulevard marks the location of the dreaded Berlin wall.

The wall was constructed by East Germany as an “Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart.” Today, most of the wall has disappeared, leaving only memories for those old enough to remember it.

The largest remaining section, in fact, has become a public art display. Called the East Side Gallery, the wall is covered by 105 paintings by artists from all over the world.

But to get a real feeling for this Iron Curtain, visit the Berlin Wall Memorial; it was established in 1998 “in memory of the city’s division from 13 August 1961 to 9 November 1989 and of the victims of communist tyranny.” It preserves 60 yards of the former “no man’s land” as a physical reminder of the wall.

One can also imagine the courage it would take to cross this dead zone, where guards in nearby watch towers waited to arrest and shoot anyone attempting to escape to the West.

The documentation center is also part of the Berlin Wall Memorial, offering the history behind the building of the wall. Visitors can climb the observation tower to see part of the original border.

For more information, visit www.visitBerlin.com