Free Walking Tour Berlin

When: Every day 10am & 12pm every day
Where: The meeting point is in front of the ehemaliges Kaiserliches Postfuhramt Berlin, Oranienburger Straße, 10117 Berlin, Germany, next to the entrance.
Price: Free

The Unveiling of the Berlin Wall: A Symbol of Division and Struggle

by | Oct 22, 2024 | Original Berlin

The construction of the Berlin Wall was a defining moment in history, forever etched into the memory of those who witnessed it firsthand. Its presence loomed large in the hearts and minds of people on both sides, serving as a physical and metaphorical representation of the Cold War era. But why exactly was the Berlin Wall built? In this blog post, we will unravel the reasons behind its construction and explore its lasting impact.

The Context of the Cold War

If we want to comprehend and analyze all the reasons that led to the building of the Berlin Wall then we need to begin with the political context. After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the Allied forces: United States, Soviets, Great Britain and France. Pressure between the Soviet Union and the western Allies rises due to clarity in difference in their ideologies that lead to the cold war.

The Soviet Union which was headed by Joseph Stalin had the objective of expanding communism to Eastern Europe while on the other hand the western allies wanted to uphold democracy so as to post war. This conflict of egos led to major division between the East and the West with Germany in the center of the problem.

‘Brain drain’ and East German frustration

When the western part of Germany developed economically and politically they soon became free, many of the East Germans were soon dissatisfied with the socialism and a gap in economic development between the two was Nigeria. In the East their standards of living became considerably lower than in the West and people grew frustrated.

This was due to the brain drain effect Increasing its effects around the middle of 1980’s pulling out skilled and professional people from the country. A volume of personnel flight comprised of skilled practitioners and educationists from east Germany was migrating to the western part of Germany for better lifestyles thus stripping the east part of such human capital. This provided further boost to the economic and intelligentsia gap between the two zones.

The Berlin Crisis of 1961

The survivals of East Block’s separation it turned into the construction of the ‘Wall of Shame,’ as the relations between East and West Germany intensified and thousands of residents of East Berlin fled for the freedom of West Berlin. Many East Germans had been migrating to the West across the border within the sectors in Berlin over the years. This became a show a of major political and economic concern to East Germany leadership.

In response, the Soviet Union and its East German partners decided to build a wall keeping the people within their country. This was presumably meant to build a line that would prevent the movement of East Germans, or at least limit it to ensure that the flow of human capital assets was curbed and that politics could be contained.

The Wall’s Impact

The construction of the Berlin Wall led to unpleasant consequences. At a practical level it greatly reduced the flow of East Germans into West Germany. People were forced to become hostages of the storm; husbands woke up with wives on the other side of the barrier or vice versa.

Nonetheless, it went further than physical barriers. The Wall around the Berlin City became epitome of the Iron Curtain and a regular reminder of the divide which defined the Cold War politics. And its existence proved that governments were ready to make a lot for preventing the spread of the counter ideology.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was for nearly twenty eight years when on 9th November 1989 a glorious feeling of reunification happened. Mass protests and political changes in Eastern Europe had weakened the regime’s grip on power, paving the way for an extraordinary event: the fall of the Berlin Wall.

After the wall had been knocked down and people on both sides crossed the border to embrace one another the Berlin Wall was reduced to nothing more than a faint memory. This was the collapse of the old order of the Cold War and reunification of Germany East and Germany West; a time of dreams, hope, and solutions to any problem ever.

Final Thoughts

The Berlin Wall was a physical manifestation of the ideological and political divisions that plagued the world during the Cold War. Its construction aimed to prevent the mass exodus of East Germans, but it only succeeded in further highlighting the stark contrast between life in the East and the West.

The fall of the Berlin Wall became an emblematic moment in history, forever entrenched in the annals of human achievement. It represented the triumph of unity over division, the crumbling of barriers, and the power of people to effect change.

Thank you for reading. If you're inspired by the stories of Berlin and want to delve deeper, why not join us on our Free Berlin Walking Tour? It's a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the city's rich history and vibrant culture. We look forward to welcoming you soon.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • 3.5 hours walking tour
  • Berlin’s major highlights
  • Brandenburg Gate
  • Reichstag and Berlin Wall
  • Historical sites

Free Walking Tour Berlin

When: Every day 10am & 12pm every day
Where: The meeting point is in front of the ehemaliges Kaiserliches Postfuhramt Berlin, Oranienburger Straße, 10117 Berlin, Germany, next to the entrance.
Price: Free