On this day: August 13
Berlin Wall Erected Overnight, Dividing East and West Berlin
In the early hours of August 13, 1961, East German authorities began building fortified barriers across Berlin, severing streets and families and marking the start of a concrete division between East and West.
East Germany Seals Borders as Thousands Flee to West
On August 13, 1961, East German authorities began erecting barriers and closing crossings around West Berlin after a sustained wave of defections from the German Democratic Republic, transforming the city into a divided focal point of Cold War tensions.
U.S. Moves to Bar Chemical Weapons Production (Aug. 13, 1990)
On August 13, 1990, the United States announced a policy to prohibit the production of chemical weapons, marking a significant step toward eliminating an entire category of weapons amid growing international arms-control efforts.