The construction of the wall was done on the 13th of August in 1961by the GDR at the capital of Germany, Berlin. This barrier, which was built 155 kilometers long, divided the city into two halves – East Germany that was under control of the communists and West Germany that was democratic.
At the same time, the construction of the Wall again defined the purpose of the Berlin border as serving to protect East Germany from threats , including attacks, acts of espionage, sabotage, or insurrection, originating in West Berlin.
It also explained that the Berlin Wall was erected to bar citizens from escaping from the socialism-oriented East Berlin into the free West Berlin. Is one representing the Iron Curtain that segregated Europe during the Second World War period. The government under the communism realized the danger of the technical know-how persons that quantify in skilled workers, professionals or intellectuals moving in the western countries mainly West Germany. Not only did the GDR attempt to create separate identity from West , but they also sought to keep their citizens separate from influences of the West in an effort to more firmly entrench their government’s control.
The Effect of the intimately on Berlin’s Citizens
As the paper intends to demonstrate, construction of the Berlin Wall had drastic effects on citizens in Berlin. Overnight, families were separated, friends were torn apart, and the city itself was split literally by the wall dividing east and west from communism to democracy. Those in East Berlin were subjected to banned liberties and truncated prospects and the secret police of East Germany were an ever watchful eyes and ears crowding their lives.
The Social Pressure for Change
Over the years, the Physical barrier or concrete dividing the city came to represent division and segregation. People clamored for freedom and the reunification of Germany increased in both East and West Berlin. This sentiment is attributed to the emerging economic dis parities, political instability, and other Eastern European nations bit by bit shifting through dramatic political changes such as Hungary, and Poland.
The Central Figure in this process – Gorbachev & the Policy of Glasnost
The events that led toward the collapse of the Berlin Wall could not be fully explained in isolation from the ascension of Mikhail Gorbachev to the leadership of Soviet Union. Gorbachev adopted a set of political and social changes of openness and restructuring the politics of Soviet Union to make relation with the Western countries better. These policies brought with them the culture of change for democracy and freedom movements in Eastern Europe.
The Historic Day: November 9, 1989
This is the day when the peace, freedom and unity triumphed over division, evil and oppression; It is November, 9, 1989. After weeks of mass protests, the following fateful evening, the East German government stated that all citizens can travel to the West without restrictions. Of people, young and old, men and women, black and white, joined forces to break the wall, that for many represented division in the world for over a centuries.
A Global Celebration
People in Germany were of course the first to embrace the collapse of this despised symbol of division, but people all over the world joined in as well. It was a victory of liberty of the spirit over tyranny and a sign of the relief of a World at large. It was the of the Cold war and the rebirth of Germany as a united country out of what had been West and East Germany.
Aftermath with the Reunification of Germany
The breaking of the Berlin Wall led to German reunification which actually occurred on 3rd October 1990. People with their loved ones were reunited after nearly three decades of the divided country and Germany was reunified. But the reunification process that followed was riddled with some difficulties. The economical differences between the eastern and western Germany posed challenges, and the reunion was a process that required latitudinal transformation for change in the eastern Germany and longitudial transformation for change on the western part of Germany.
A Lasting Legacy
Today, the Berlin Wall is a symbol of liberty throughout the entire world. Today, parts of the wall have remained and are very telling of recent history and a call for maintenance of peace and democracy. Consequently, the event is symbolic for those who want as true inspiration motivating the humanity to refuse division and seek for the better reality.
May we never forget the brave individuals who brought down the symbols of the divided city such as the Berlin Wall and let us strive, learn and teach for a world without bitterness in division separating country or creed.
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