Introduction

When it comes to absolute symbolic representation of how far societies are willing to go in terms of differentiating themselves, there are few things that can be compared to, or are in any way similar to, the Berlin Wall. For 28 years, this concrete structure effectively segregated a city and became an emblem of Cold War’s division. In this article, we will look at the history of Berlin Wall with an emphasis of the influence it had on people during its construction.

The event at the center of this case study is considered to be the construction of the Berlin Wall.

The Berlin Wall was built during one night of August 13, 1961. It is a building that was put up by the Germany Democratic Republic which is usually referred to as the East Germany. It was an attempt to contain the flood of East Germans to West Germany where life was much more comfortable or as the Wall termed it : ‘…better off’.

The Wall had watch-towers and anti-vehicle roadblocks and the deathstrip, a narrow no-man’s land enclosed by minefields, barbed wire, floodlights, mines, and guards with dogs.

The Impact on Daily Life

The Berlin Wall utterly cut off all the relationships between families, friends, and co-workers, who suddenly became on different sides. There was relatively limited East and West Berlin interface which meant that people could not easily cross over the border.

The wall also had major economic impacts, injury to economic relationships. While being an island of West Berlin surrounded by East Germany, West Berlin developed into without a doubt a prosperous western state. On the other hand East Berlin suffered economically through losing its brains think as well as the imbalance of the economic facilities.

Checkpoint Charlie: A Symbol of Tension

Before becoming one of the most famous crossings through the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie was established in Friedrichstrasse. Demarcations such as this were common during the Cold War, where American and Soviet tanks pointed their turrets at each other.

Checkpoint Charlie also functioned as perhaps the most dramatic stage for trials at escape attempts. The Wall construction began in October 1961, an American named Herbert Artwin abandoned his diplomatic car and hid in the wooden box to cross Checkpoint Charlie.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

November 9, 1989, is considered an important day in history. Through so much pressure from the population of East German citizens and the global society, the government of East Germany declared that citizens of this country could walk across the border, including the Berlin Wall.

On that night thousands of rejoicing East and West Berliners swarmed over the Wall pulling it down with axes, picks and their fingers. The reunification of East and west Germany became an inalienable fact.

The Emotional Reunification

It was not only a conventional event, it was an emotional one with the collapsing of the Berlin Wall. Families, who have lived apart for more than forty years, affectionately reunited. Participants were happy upon seeing each other after years of separation and families were seen dancing.

The Legacy of the Berlin Wall

Parts of the wall are still standing even to this date in order to remind people of the suffering of the past period. The East Side Gallery is one of the examples, where portions of the Wall have been turned into a colorful impressing aerated gallery filled with murals and works of art, indicating the people’s desire and longing for peace and reunification of two nations.

Germany’s reunification is, of course, well known and associated with the fall of the last major symbol of the Cold War: the Berlin Wall. They signified that there can be no gap which cannot be crossed when people come together to demand freedom and accelerated inclusiveness.

Conclusion

The Berlin Wall, a lasting indicator of division and repression, was in place for twenty eight years. The objectives that were set when it was being constructed were as effective as destroying it and they amped up the tape in greatness by teaching people to always hope despite adversity. When confronting this part of the past, we repeat the values of togetherness, liberty, and the fight for a bettor tomorrow.