Chapter 60

Like the current residents of West Berlin, who are disturbed by loudspeakers during the day and scanned by powerful searchlights at night, plus the rumors spread by some Stasi agents who have infiltrated the city, it is easy for these isolated West Berlin residents to become very anxious. This kind of environment, where they are both enclosed and surveilled, is never comfortable, and they can only gradually get used to it over time.

Of course, this is not an analysis by Shelepov; it must be credited to a group of Soviet experts like Yagoda, who once studied the psychological changes of prisoners in the Kazan prison. For the sudden appearance of the Berlin Wall in Greater Berlin, the residents of West Berlin have not yet adapted. If something needs to be done, it must be done now, or else the residents of West Berlin will get used to the existence of the Berlin Wall over time.

The news that the GDR was preparing to cut off the Spree and Havel rivers had the effect of igniting a powder keg. Added to the activities of Stasi agents, finally, starting yesterday, West Berlin saw gatherings of people demanding that the GDR explain the recent news. Once the crowd gathers, the situation becomes very uncontrollable, which is not good news for the inexperienced West Berlin. Once an agitated crowd gathers on a large scale, a small incident, a statement, or a word can make the entire situation unmanageable.

Now, this result is already presented before the GDR, at least before Shelepov's eyes. The entire West Berlin area is filled with thick smoke, looking like the West Berlin residents are facing off against the military and police of the three countries. From the scene, the occupying forces of the three countries have not yet used force, which is not good news. However, it should only be temporary; perhaps the occupying forces of the three countries are communicating.

The West Berlin residents who have flooded to the other side of the Berlin Wall are densely packed, and the crowd is expanding every second. Behind them, the West Berlin area is filled with thick smoke, and sporadic gunshots can be heard.

"If only I could hear what those people are saying, it always feels like I'm missing the experience of being there!" After observing for a while, Shelepov put down the military binoculars and said wistfully.

"Hmm?" Markus Wolf tilted his head and looked at Shelepov, then nodded to a Stasi agent in the room. The room was immediately filled with a massive amount of noise, so chaotic that it was impossible to distinguish anything.

"Stop, I understand, that's enough!" Shelepov shook his head and waved his hand to indicate. At that moment, he understood a Chinese idiom, "morning bell and evening drum." Was it because the Stasi equipment was too good, or was the situation at the Berlin Wall really that chaotic?

If a wall is taken as the dividing line, East and West Berlin now present two completely different scenes. The GDR is creating a happy atmosphere because today is International Children's Day. As a member of the socialist camp, the GDR is taking this Children's Day very seriously, and also because the Berlin Wall has just been built, the GDR needs to soothe the agitated mood of the people, preparing balloons, candies, and many other gifts.

Moreover, due to the many workers from other countries involved in the renovation of East Berlin, their families and children were also invited to Berlin in advance to create a harmonious image of brotherly countries. However, no matter how happy an atmosphere East Berlin tries to create, it cannot hide the thick smoke over Greater Berlin, which people know from the wind direction is coming from West Berlin.

In the West Berlin area, the gathered people have forgotten their initial purpose. From the first act of vandalism, similar actions have spread like an epidemic among all the gathered people. Even the occupying forces of the three countries have not had time to think about how a rally that was supposed to put pressure on the GDR has instantly turned into a riot.

"There is a mentality in humans called 'the law does not punish the multitude.' Once the number of people is large enough, this feeling arises. The plan put forward by our Soviet most authoritative psychological experts and social issue researchers is quite good! We need to seize this feeling to make the gathered people temporarily forget the consequences they face..." Shelepov, standing by the window, patted Markus Wolf's shoulder and laughed. Actually, Shelepov's smile was quite strange, not matching his current gaze, which was the gaze of an enemy.

"Hmm, hmm? Tanks?" Markus Wolf asked, putting down the binoculars and picking them up again, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. A group of people continuously throwing stones at the American and British military and police were moving closer to West Berlin, and what Markus Wolf saw on the other side was very familiar: the Sherman tanks from the military camps of the three occupying forces. These tanks are not commonly seen on the European continent anymore, only the occupying forces in West Berlin, designated as cannon fodder, use these old relics.

The view here is very good, and Shelepov also noticed the movement of the tanks. He could see American and British soldiers moving, but upon closer inspection, he did not see French soldiers stationed in West Berlin. But one thing is certain: there will certainly be deaths in West Berlin today.

"You have three choices now!" Shelepov said very seriously, "First, open the border crossing and let the residents of West Berlin enter East Berlin. However, this is very risky; no one knows if there are enemy intelligence agents inside who might cause trouble, and it would make our efforts to eliminate dissidents futile! Second, do nothing and let the American and British military and police take strong action to restore order."

"What about the third? You've only mentioned two so far..." Markus Wolf tilted his head and looked at his Soviet colleague. Shelepov's first two suggestions were almost useless; the first was too risky, and the second was no suggestion at all. So far, the situation in East Berlin fits Shelepov's description perfectly.

"Third, let the internal security forces on the watchtowers open fire to prevent the American and British military and police from arresting the West Berlin residents gathered at the Berlin Wall!" Shelepov said, thinking aloud, "Create the image of a protector for the people gathered at the Berlin Wall, but it won't be useful. Once the crowd disperses, the American and British military and police can arrest people in places where the internal security forces cannot see..."

At this moment, the people gathered at the Berlin Wall also know that the American and British military and police are continuously arriving behind them. In fact, these people do not know what is happening.

"It's too late if you wait any longer!" Shelepov reminded him, not too lightly and not too heavily.

Markus Wolf slowly put down the binoculars, picked up the phone on the table, and gave the order, "Berlin Wall guard forces, prevent the American and British military and police from pursuing the West Berlin residents. Warn the American and British military and police approaching the Berlin Wall area; you are authorized to fire as a warning!"

The West Berlin residents gathered at the Berlin Wall, who were still in a daze, finally received their first response of the day. The internal security forces on the watchtowers used loudspeakers to shout in German, "Warning to the military and police of the three countries: do not approach the Berlin Wall area. Otherwise, the GDR has the right to open fire..."

Page AD starts

Page AD ends