Section Eight of Ten East-West Border Crossings The political
situation between the Western Powers and the Soviet Union
worsened early in 1948. The Soviets tried to expand the Iron
Curtain. The City of Berlin was an island within East Germany,
and within this island the city was divided into a West sector
and an East sector. No walls existed at this time. Travel
between East Germany and Berlin, and travel between the West and
East sectors was still unrestricted. However, the East German
police became very vigilant in stopping material, especially
food products, from crossing over the East Germany-Berlin
border. They erected control points at every railroad station
and major highways entering Berlin. Hence, my trips to obtain
food from East Germany became stifled. I had to find another way
to supplement our food supply or make enough money to buy food
on the black market. An acquaintance suggested I travel to West
Germany on the Interzonal train. When I mentioned that I would
not be qualified to obtain a trave