When the Berlin Wall first opened

Updated 1142 GMT (1942 HKT) January 2, 2014

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Two and a half years after it was constructed, the Berlin Wall was temporarily opened during the Christmas season in 1963. From December 20 to January 5, 1964, an agreement between East and West Germany allowed West Berliners to obtain one-day passes to visit relatives in East Berlin.

Photos: When the Berlin Wall first opened

When the Berlin Wall first opened – Two and a half years after it was constructed, the Berlin Wall was temporarily opened during the Christmas season in 1963. From December 20 to January 5, 1964, an agreement between East and West Germany allowed West Berliners to obtain one-day passes to visit relatives in East Berlin.

Hide Caption

1 of 6

Thousands of people line up December 19, 1963, to apply for passage into East Berlin. An estimated 2 million residents of West Berlin applied for holiday passes to East Berlin, and about half were able to receive one.

Photos: When the Berlin Wall first opened

When the Berlin Wall first opened – Thousands of people line up December 19, 1963, to apply for passage into East Berlin. An estimated 2 million residents of West Berlin applied for holiday passes to East Berlin, and about half were able to receive one.

Hide Caption

2 of 6

A Western zone officer, in front of the border crossing at Chausseestrasse, carries a box with the first passes. To be granted a pass, only those with close relatives in East Berlin, such as parents, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, were eligible.

Photos: When the Berlin Wall first opened

When the Berlin Wall first opened – A Western zone officer, in front of the border crossing at Chausseestrasse, carries a box with the first passes. To be granted a pass, only those with close relatives in East Berlin, such as parents, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, were eligible.

Hide Caption

3 of 6

Photos: When the Berlin Wall first opened

When the Berlin Wall first opened – Cars pass into East Berlin on Christmas Day in 1963.

Hide Caption

4 of 6

The opening brought joyous reunions for separated families. More than 500,000 people were said to have entered East Berlin by midnight December 31.

Photos: When the Berlin Wall first opened

When the Berlin Wall first opened – The opening brought joyous reunions for separated families. More than 500,000 people were said to have entered East Berlin by midnight December 31.

Hide Caption

5 of 6

A West Berlin policeman stops traffic at an crossing point on January 5, 1964. It was the last day West Berliners could visit East Berlin with a permit, although similar holiday openings would take place during the 1960s.

Photos: When the Berlin Wall first opened

When the Berlin Wall first opened – A West Berlin policeman stops traffic at an crossing point on January 5, 1964. It was the last day West Berliners could visit East Berlin with a permit, although similar holiday openings would take place during the 1960s.

Hide Caption

6 of 6