1. Complete the text with the time expressions in the box.
The Berlin Wall
If you visit Berlin today you will find a rich, busy European capital full of tourists. It is hard to believe that a a. for 28 years the city was divided by a 3,5 metre high wall.
When World War 2 ended, Berlin was divided into different areas, each under the control of a different Ally - American. British and French on one side, and Russian on the other. This was not a good idea and b. after months of problems and arguments, on 24 June 1948 Russia closed all roads into West Berlin. The Americans and British did not want another war, so c. for 318 days they sent food and medicines into the city by air. The crisis continued d. until May 1949, when the Russians opened the road and rail links again.
e. After the crisis was over the city was still divided, but f. until 13 August 1961 people could still cross from one area to the other. On the day without warning the East German security forces closed most of the crossing points to West Berlin with barbed wire. This soon became a concrete wall, over 150km long, completely surrounding West Berlin. The wall remained g. until the collapse of Communism, and the Berliners were finally able to smash it down on 9 November 1989. h. While is existed over 200 people were killed while they tried to pass over or dig under the wall.
i. Since October 1990 Berlin has been the capital of a re-unified Germany, although the German parliament and government did not move there form Bonn j. until 1999.
