The Berlin Wall had big financial implications for the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany for short. The wall, erected in 1961, was a fortified barrier through which East Berliners were to go neither in or out, to stop the mass emigration from East to West. It meant the iron curtain broke up families and communities, but at a price. Next, we will look at Berlin Wall building and maintenance costs.
The Initial Construction Costs
On August 13, 1961, this Berlin Wall began construction to keep East Germans from fleeing to West Germany. According to early estimates, the initial costs of building would be about 16 million East German marks, or about US$3.6 million. Concrete slabs, barbed wire, guard towers, it all blended together to form a formidable 96 mile barrier that was used by the GDR.
In addition to the cost of the wall, workers worked to build it. And that estimate is that 10,000 soldiers and police officers took the initial construction; they worked in tight schedules to quickly split the city up.
The Economic Impact
The Berlin Wall had a far reaching economic effect on East and West Germany. This made East Germany take strict border controls and isolationist policies so that the citizens will not escape. Such an impediment to economic growth and innovation within the country.
The wall represented a symbol of political division, but more so it allowed for the degeneration of the freedom of the goods and service. The East German economy did not perform well and the economic divide grew greater between East Germany and West Germany.
Day-to-Day Maintenance Costs
Once the Berlin Wall was up, the wall was in constantly need of maintaining for it to go as aspired. Border guards salaries, maintenance of patrol roads, repair of fences and guard towers were some of the expenses that needed to be daily paid.
Much of the budget for maintaining and upkeep of the wall was financed by the GDR. These annual expense were estimated at between 100 and 200 million East German marks.
Border Security Investments
The GDR also continued to invest in technologies, and, consequently, also in infrastructure, in order to strengthen security along the border. Part of that package included advanced alarm systems, additional barriers, but also more border patrol personnel.
This implementation was costly to develop and implement. Were funding, such as for education and healthcare, were available to them, the GDR would have to spend this money on other things in order to keep its strict border controls.
The Fall of the Wall
On November 9, 1989 the Berlin Wall fell after 28 years, ending peacefully and due to political changes in East Germany. New challenges, new costs, came with reunification of East and West Germany.
As a whole, Germany paid several costs to do this – to disassemble the wall, integrate the two economys. Infrastructural development, job creation and social welfare programs to ease the pains the East German population were facing all were part of the reunification process.
Legacy Costs
Although the Berlin Wall is no more, it is a living legacy of costs. It includes the conservation of historical site, provision of educational resources, support for people and families of affected individuals.
Since 1991, the German government has had programs to mark the wall effects and the teaching about the value of freedom and unity to future generations.
Conclusion
Building and keeping the Berlin Wall cost a lot of money, but it was a very expensive thing to run. Estimating it is difficult, but the initial construction costs, day to day maintenance, border security investments and reunification costs all added up to be a heavy financial burden.
Today in Berlin the remains of the Berlin Wall act as symbols of the city’s divided history, the difficulties of unity in the effort to make this one nation. To understand, as well as the historical and financial implications, of such barriers is to understand the worth of freedom and the price paid for separation.