On the night of the 12/13th August 1961, a city of almost 4 million people was cut in two by a ruthless government. The Berlin Wall became a symbol of the Communist regime and the Cold War.

Just days after Britain had made its first application to join the European Common Market (refused), the Brandenburg Gate was closed off with barbed wire to prevent East and West Berliners from crossing over. Like the country of Germany, Berlin was divided into four military occupied zones with the Russians and their allies occupying the Eastern sector. East Germany soon became the richest, most advanced country in the Warsaw Pact, but many of its citizens looked to the West for political freedoms and economic prosperity. This was cut off by the Soviets.

In Britain, Hammer Films were hammering out their werewolf and Dracula movies, the population, led by the babyboomeruk generation, was slowly moving out of their post war depression and employment was growing. The popular music industry was starting its incredible rejuvenation and Cliff was riding high.

How things were not good for Germans is recounted in a new book by Frederick Taylor, the auhtor of the book "Dresden". Entitled The Berlin Wall 13 August 1961 - 9 November 1989. It is the history of the wall and carries a stark reminder of the nature of the governments on either side of the wall. One of the photos shows a section of wall on both sides in the 1980s. The Western side is completely covered in art and graffiti while the other side is just blank and grey. It is a stark reminder that not all European baby boomers had it so good.

Frederick Taylor: The Berlin Wall is published by Bloomsbury Books. Priced at £20 but you can get it from www.brockwells.co.uk for £17 plus postage of £2.65.