The Berlin Wall, one of the most prominent symbols of the Cold War era, was constructed on August 13th, 1961 and stood as a physical and ideological barrier between East and West Berlin until November 9th, 1989. Its creation and subsequent destruction left an indelible mark on the world and forever altered the lives of the people living on both sides of the divide.
Construction and Purpose
The Division of Berlin
After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones, each administered by one of the victorious Allies: the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Like Prague, “Berlin, Germany’s capital which was situated in the Soviet zone was also divided into four sectors, and everything in these sectors was run similarly.” , although relations between the Allied powers became increasingly strained, the division of Berlin became more apparent.
The Installation of a Wall
The mass population movement from East Germany to West Germany through West Berlin became a matter of great concern to the Soviet Union because they did not want their part to lose its human resource and brain power. In order to solve this problem, the construction of the so-called ‘Berlin Wall’ was undertaken, as its purpose was to effectively seal off East Berlin from the rest of the world, so that its inhabitants would not desert enomatic East for the wealthy West.
The Wall’s Construction
The Initial Barbed Wire Fence
The final instalment of the barrier started with a simple barrier of barbed wires on the 13th of August in the early morning of 1961. Following the consistent supply of tools and newly developed machinery, border troops, policemen and construction workers encased the area separating East from West Berlin with the fence. Earlier this created a fairly open barrier, which people still tried to try to breach.
Per the Decision, the Evolution into a Concrete Wall
The more the attempts increase, the fence made of barbed wire evolved into a sturdier plus structure. Increased provisions for concrete reinforcement meant that it was increasingly becoming difficult for an individual to cross the border. In order to increase protection over time more structures such as guard towers, anti-vehicle trenches, and a broad ‘death strip’ were added. It increasingly stood as a symbol of the polarity and the Cold War itself, as apposed to a structure used to protect a population.
Life under the Wall
East Berlin: The Restricted Side
Growing up in the eastern part of the Berlin Wall made one grow up in the German Democratic Republic, the GDR which was a socialist country affiliated to the Soviet Union. Conditions in East Berlin were tough and people’s rights were limited, freedom was almost nonexistent and the economical growth was low.
West Berlin: The Free Side
On the other side, West Berlin, governed by the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) offered the admirations of freedom, democracy and free market economy. In the Western part of the city economic prosperity, freedom of culture and formidable western influence was felt.
The Fall of the Wall
Increased Rebellion and Force to Shift
Late of 1980s the political structure of the Soviet Union and it satellites states was changed. Rolling back Soviet influence: As a region, Eastern Europe was undergoing the nascent stirrings of the democratic revolutions that would topple Marxist-Leninist governments across the region. Echoes of the struggle for change in East were heard more and more often; protest, demands on the political situation were heard louder and louder, people began to fight for changes in political situation more actively and often, especially in such cities as Leipzig and Dresden.
The Historic Night of November 9th,1989
Almost a month earlier on November 9th, 1989, East German government spokesman declared that the citizens where free to go to the West. Many people from the East Berlin gathered at the crossings, overpowered the guards, and then crossed the border to the West. The collapse of the wall also signified the division of the two Germany along with the reunification of the two sides which happened on 03rd,October 1990.
Legacy and Remembrance
A symbol of Global division and unity
The Berlin Wall is the monumental symbol of the splits within society, as well as of the political and social boundaries existing in the world. It tells the stories of people who live in divided societies and also is an example of people’s victory over challenges that such segregation poses.
Preserving the Memory
Various parts of Berlin today contain chunks of the Berlin Wall, an aspect that helps those visiting the city to learn of the past exodus. The section of the wall called the East Side Gallery has become atrractively painted with bright and very bold images that people associate with the hope and memories of the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
An Icon of Freedom
The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized not only the end of a physical barrier but also the victory of freedom, democracy, and the reunification of a nation. It serves as a source of inspiration for those striving for freedom and serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of division.
The construction and fall of the Berlin Wall encapsulate a significant chapter in history. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of separation and the aspirations for a united world. The lessons learned from this iconic structure continue to shape our understanding of the past and offer insights into building a more inclusive future.
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