East Germany's Bitter Legacy: How Unhealed Scars Fuel the Far Right The 65 year anniversary of the Berlin Wall's construction has brought a stark reminder of Germany's still raw east west divisions.
These divisions are being exploited by the far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has seen a surge in popularity. The impact of the wall on families, communities, and individuals was devastating.
Hartmut Richter's account of watching his family trapped in the East while he swam to freedom is a poignant reminder of the human cost of division.