The Berlin Wall (erected by the German Democratic Republic (eastern Germany) in 1961, and falling in 1989) was a physical and ideological barrier which separated West and East Berlin. Berlin had divided and the wall made had an effect on the Germany people and on the world at large. In this blogpost, I intend to explore whether or not the Berlin Wall had accomplished what it was supposed to.
The Aim of the Berlin Wall
Rather politically, it was the will to build the Berlin Wall – for example, to prevent East Berliners from moving to the Western part of the city, under the influence of the capitalist ideologies. It prevented East German government from loosing their workforce, intellectuals and skilled laborers wishing to get away from better living conditions in the West by building a physical dissuasion.
Physical and Psychological Impact
The Berlin Wall was not just a physical structure; it also had profound psychological effects on the people living on both sides. Families were separated, and lifelong friends were torn apart, creating a significant emotional toll. The psychological impact of the wall cannot be underestimated; many people faced depression, anxiety, and a general feeling of despair due to the isolation it caused.
Social and Economic Consequences
Divide had many social and economic consequences by Berlin Wall. An end was finally put to families being separated and people having no free access to each other. It had a disruptive effect on the social fiber of Berlin. Furthermore, the limited movement and therefore the impossible economic development, trade and collaboration between East and West Berlin. The East German economy couldn’t cope with stagnation and a loss of skilled labor.
Escape Attempts
Although constructed for the explicit purpose of holding people in on the East side of the Berlin Wall, the Berlin Wall was not an effective shield against escape attempts. Others, being quite brave, took the risk of their lives to cross the wall, in numerous ways, tunnels, hot air balloons and even hiding in vehicles. But these attempts were made in desperation, most often leading to tragic consequences.
Checkpoint Charlie
The most famous crossing point along the Berlin Wall was its Checkpoint Charlie. That was a symbol of the tension between East and West, of armed guards carefully watching people and checking their identity before they passed. At this checkpoint there were several attempts at an escape and further showed how people would do anything to escape the repressive regime.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
But the wall and the regime’s control persisted in spite of the authorities’ effort to continue to have the wall, the sentiment against it grew steadily throughout the years. On November 9, 1989, there was immense pressure from the inside and outside of Berlin on to the wall. In pictorial sense, it signified the end of the Cold War and the German reunification.
Conclusion
It was supposed to be a once and for all wall to permanently seal off East Berlin from the West, but that did not happen. It became, instead, a symbol of oppression and separation. The wall slowed the freely flowing people for decades but could not withstand the willing and the determined that sought freedom. The fall of the wall showed that people will unite. Today the Berlin Wall reminds us of the value of freedom, the right of man, and the hazards of dividing societies.
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