When it comes to significant historical events of the 20th century, the construction and subsequent fall of the Berlin Wall remains a defining moment. This imposing symbol of division between East and West Berlin came to represent the stark contrast between two opposing ideological systems – capitalism and communism. Let’s explore the timeline of when the Berlin Wall went up and came down, shedding light on its historical context, construction, consequences, and eventual reunification.
1. The Construction of the Berlin Wall
The barrier was built by East Germany on August 13, 1961 known as the Berlin Wall. It was a reaction to the increased number of residents running from East to West Berlin in search of a better life under constant soviet threat. The construction of the wall was to assert the GDR power and control more emigration from East to the West.
Concerted electric smart fences surrounded watch towers and barriers put up a comprehensiveness and a show of might extending to approximately 96 miles or 155 kilometers dissecting the city of Berlin. In time it would be strengthened and lengthened making it even more impossible for East Berliners who wanted to flee over the wall.
2. Living in the Shadow of the Wall
The construction of the Berlin Wall changed the daily lives of Berliners right after its construction, especially those residents in districts which was cut in two by the wall. Loved ones began being separated, and people couldn’t just casually go over to a friend or relative’s and vice versa.
In one of the most famous checkpoints called Checkpoint Charlie, which appeared on the map of Moscow and other cities, a deadly division line was created. Which demanded thorough check of IDs, paperwork and actually provided only limited access to the surrounding areas by the guards. The wall turned Berlin into the city of division, grief and despair for more than 28 years and six months.
2.1 The Death Strip
Beside the Berlin Wall there was the so-called death strip, which was a stripe of territory between the inner and outer walls of the partitioned German city. This place was in fact a death strip for the east German border guards who had orders to shoot upon anyone attempting to cross over to the west. The stories of people dying and the sad deaths within this formidable strip only contributed to the bone chilling experiences of the divided city.
- The Catalysts for Change
Eventually, people turned disillusioned with the authoritarian rule within the East Germany state. This sentiment was whispering into and outside of border of Berlin through several incidences.
The wave of political reform that started in 1989 upsetting Eastern Europe – and the collapse of the Iron Curtain countries – set the right tone for change and liberation. Social tensions rose, people were demanding freedom, and an end to the policy of one-party rule. These events are additional overthrows of the already unstable pillars of the GDR.
- The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The very day which marked the beginning of the evolution of the wall was on November, 9 1989. Due to increasing pressure from protesters, the leadership of the East Germany declared that the people of this country could visit the West unhampered. This public announcement was a signal to investors that there was a plan to open up travel as a kind of tourism stimulus; the news triggered a series of events that led to the wall’s collapse.
Many people gathered at the checkpoints in the Berlin Wall itself that same night to insist on their right to cross over. The first East German border guards trying to stop the people embraced by the wall did not succeed, until the gates themselves were opened. The East German government had failed in some respects – and this part, the popular dismantlement of the wall started.
4.1 The Reunification of a Walled City
It would even be possible to say, that the scenes, associated with joy and people’s unity, which occurred after the wall, – are unforgettable. Os preguiçosos subiram no muro e abraçaram-se com os desconhecidos do outro lado, para registrar este momento histórico. Although the fall of the Berlin Wall meant the reunion of families and friends it also signaled the passing of the age of the cold war and the new age of Germany.
- The Aftermath and the Reunification
The treaties that came from the fall of the Berlin Wall meant the reunification of East and West Germany. However, it can be noted that after 9/10th of the wall, on the 3rd of October in 1990, the GDR officially disappeared, and the territory of this state joined the FRG.
The reunification process entailed severing many and diverse economic, political, social factors. East Germany had many problems such as a poorly developed economy and large differences between the quality of live of ordinary people and those of western counterpart. However, the reunification has consequently culminated into the merging of the two sides and gradually reconstruction of united Germany.
5.1 Memorials and Reminders
Now there are get-now-and-again pieces built into what is left of the ‘Wall’ and are sobering symbol of a city and the world divided. The current exhibition at Bernauer Strasse is called the Berlin Wall Memorial and offers visitors an overview of the former division in the capital as well as remembering all the victims. Furthermore, individual parts of the wall are located in many states around the globe and are also significant forms of art and forever messages to payoff the sanctions of the people’s constant struggle for freedom.
Conclusion
The story of the Berlin Wall is both a cautionary tale of the consequences of division and an inspiring testament to the resilience and yearning for unity among the human spirit. Between its sudden construction and its victorious fall, the Berlin Wall served as a tangible symbol of the ideological divide that dominated the latter half of the 20th century. Its ultimate demise signified not only the reunification of a city but also the triumph of freedom over oppression.
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