Introduction
A division wall called the Berlin Wall that was a cold war period of a structure made of concrete and fortified wall that prevents the free flow separating East and West Berlin. The feature, which was erected by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) on August 13, 1961, was its main purpose, and amounted to a physical statement of the ideological and political divisions between the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc. This article examines how the Berlin Wall was constructed, when and for how long it was in tact, and why it finally broke down.
The Historical Context
At the end of World War II Germany was divided into four occupation zones under those of the United States, Soviet Union, France and Britain. Relationships began to become tense, as tensions increased, between the Soviets and the Western Allies, as the ideological differences developed. The Western Allies wanted to rebuild Germany’s economy and to set up a democratic government, but the Soviets considered Germany a threat and aimed to put down their zone. This growing divide resulted in the creation of two separate states: the German Democratic Republic (DDR, East Germany) and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).
The ideological differences between these two states meant that a great many East Germans headed to West Germany in search of jobs and political freedom. Deeply worrying to the East German authorities was the mass exodus of skilled professionals and young intellectuals from the East who were skilled. They made the conscious decision to halt this migration and stamp down on their population harder.
The Construction of the Berlin Wall
For East German soldiers and police, midmorning action televised around the world began on August 13, 1961, when they began sealing off the border between East and West Berlin. The thought was to reinforce the existing barbed wire fence, and gradually replace it with fortified concrete walls, with guard towers, anti vehicle trenches, and a wide ‘Death Strip’ cleared of vegetation to allow unobstructed line of sight to guards at the border. Almost overnight the Berlin Wall was constructed, separating many families from those they loved while also catching many by surprise.
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie was one of the most famous crossing points of those Berlin wall years. It was in the heart of Berlin and was a gateway for arriving diplomats, military personnel and foreign tourists into East Berlin and East Berlin out of West Berlin. Today it still carries its iconic value because of its role as a symbol of the division and international tensions of the Cold War era.
The Significance of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was the stark dividing line between the East and West that remained standing from its construction through to it’s inevitable fall in 1989. It literally split families, friends, and even entire communities. The wall became visual catchword of Cold War between democracy and … communism, while embodying the wider context of that conflict.
Deterrent to Migration
The primary reason for building the Berlin Wall was to stop the tide of mass migration from East Germany to the more comfortable West Germany. Under Soviet influence the East German government feared that the population loss would cause economic collapse and even political instability. In doing so, they hoped to keep citizens from leaving, and in controlling their people.
Control and Repression
Along with keeping emigrants from leaving was having the Berlin Wall function as a tool of control and oppression. GDR had rules on how people in and out of East Germany. The wall even became psychological barrier, making people afraid and keeping those with potential to brave the ruling regime to dissidents.
Propaganda and Ideological Warfare
The Berlin Wall was used as a backdrop in a Cold War propaganda battle by East and West Germany. The West rejected the wall as a symbol of oppression, a violation of human rights; the East the wall as a means of protection against the oppression of the West. And that ideological divide between the two sides became even more hardened by this ideological battle.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Political and economic changes in the Eastern Bloc, together with higher levels of social unrest within East Germans, mounted pressure for reform in the 1980s. Over a series of falsely announced openings, it was on November, 9, 1989, that the border crossed in East and West Berlin were to reopen to heads of state, all borders were also to reopen to East German citizens, as also it was announced. In retrospect this was a momentous event, it signifying the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany.
Peaceful Revolution
The Berlin Wall fell because of a mostly peaceful revolution agitating for political change and freedom. Domestically and internationally scrutiny from mass protests was brought to the oppressive regime in Berlin and Leipzig. The wall came down as much because the people standing in front of it were so persistent and determined, and so much because Soviet influence was relaxed under Gorbachev’s leadership.
Symbol of Reunification
Berlin Wall fall represented a new dawn, hope, unity and reunification. It was the end of the division not only in Germany, but in Europe as a whole. The jubilation at the destruction of the wall became a global event to lead to East and West Germany being reunified on October 3, 1990.
Conclusion
For nearly three decades the Berlin Wall — a potent symbol of division and repression — carried out its purpose. Construction was intended to prevent mass emigration from East Germany and to strengthen the rule of the ruling regime. It ultimately failed, however, to contain the demand for freedom and change among a population of East Germans. The fall of the wall was a milestone in history until the end of the Cold War, the unification of Germany. Today it serves as a reminder of the unbelievable human ability to work hard and to push forward to seek the real reasons behind what drives us to seek freedom.
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