Understanding the Construction of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was put up while the Cold War peaked, and referred to as the ‘Wall of Shame’, was a physical and ideological barrier dividing East Berlin from West Berlin in the German Democratic Republic (German East Germany). Coming at the end of the Berlin Crisis of 1961, construction of the Berlin wall began on August 13, 1961, its impact on Berlin and the world can not be ignored.
Germany has been a major player on the world stage in turn between times of unity and pathways. Following World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the Allied powers: So the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France. Berlin was also divided into four sectors, deep within Soviet controlled territory with the city of Berlin.
The Time for a Barrier and Escalating Tensions
In the years after the war ideological differences grew between the western powers and the Soviet Union and became part of what would become known as the Cold War. The city itself became a ’hotspot’ for geopolitical struggles, as it supposedly symbolized the larger East-West divide.
When tensions grew, ever more East Berliners came west. This influx of college educated workers was a big hit to East German’s economy and political system. East German government, with the backing of the Soviet Union, took a.response in constructing a physical barrier to stop the flood of its citizen.
The Construction Begins
On August 13, 1961 the East German authorities began building, which would later be known as the Berlin Wall. The controls to prevent, or at least monitor, the flow of migrants into East Berlin, the ward of the Soviet military sector, were the first, consisting of barbed wire fencing and concrete barriers to close off the border; there were checkpoints and guard towers placed at strategic points to isolate the border.
The wall grew, over time, more fortified, more formidable. Finally, these makeshift barriers were superseded by a twelve foot high concrete wall, completed and fortified with guard towers, anti-vehicle trenches and extensive barbed wire fences. Physically, it made Berlin a divided city, and in some ways, an impenetrable one.
Impact and Consequences
Symbol of the Cold War
Dividing a city into halves would have been enough, but the Berlin Wall divided an entire world. It was reminder of cold war which was reinforced by the ideological differences and fierce capitalism and communism battle.
With the building of the wall families and friends were separated, cut off from one another, unable to communicate and see each other. Cultural and economic exchanges between two sides of the city were brought to an abrupt halt, and streets were blocked.
Escape Attempts and Tragic Losses
Escape attempts across the Berlin Wall were incredibly dangerous and very often fatal. In the course of the pursuit of freedom, thousands of East Germans risked their lives. A few tried to jump over the wall, some tunneled under it. But those caught were punished; sometimes by imprisonment, sometimes by death.
A tragic example of this is Peter Fechter, who at 18 years old was shot at during the day while trying to get over the wall. Held at gunpoint in the no man’s land between East and West Berlin, he begged for help but bled to death. The wall had become a powerful symbol of inhumanity when his tragic death was reported.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
On November 9th 1989, the famous Berlin Wall ended after 28 years were up. It was a milestone in history, and stood for the end of the Cold War. That was a result of wide spread protests, political pressure and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
The collapse of the Berlin Wall resulted in the German reunification, and motivated other countries to seize opportunity from similar openings for freedom and democracy. It was the apex of human spirit and peoples power to unite in defeats that appeared to be insurpassable.
Conclusion
Defining moments in world history were the construction and subsequent fall of the Berlin Wall. While the wall was supposed to separate and dominate, it ultimately served as a leftover sign of resistance and the human desire to be free. It affected the way of the people of Berlin and of the world, and brought about large and great political, social and culture changes, as a continuous witness that indicates the value and threats of unity and division.
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