The Cold War and the Division of Germany
The wall of division and enmity which was the Berlin Wall stood for more than 28 years effectively dividing East and West Berlin. In order to realize what contributes to its building and to its demolition in 1989, there is information necessary to know more about the background of the Cold War and the division of Germany.
After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the victorious Allies: the US, USSR, Great Britain, and France. Like any city in Germany, Berlin was split into four and was therefore also divided into sectors. Relations between the U.S.A and USSR gradually worsened and by 1949 the division betweeen East and West Germany.
The division of Germany into the Federal Republic of Germany ‘West’ and the German Democratic Republic the ‘East’ provided the depends politically and economically the western capitalist democracy and the eastern communism and totalitarianism.
The Escalation of East-West Tensions
The Cold War was in full bloom during the Fifties and Sixties and Berlin was very much in the thick of things. Many people from the east side were moving to the west to engage in better-paying jobs and have control over their political…
Lacking control over their population and realizing that they were losing their best qualified citizens both the East Germany government with the backing of their Soviet masters determined to build a wall to prevent their citizens from leaving for more prosperous West Germany. This decision later and unfortunately resulted to the building of the infamous Berlin wall.
The Construction of the Berlin Wall
It started building on the night of the 12th of August in the year one thousand nine hundred and sixty-one. Wiring was put up initially and this was later replaced by a more permanent one made up of cement blocks, watch towers and grassed paths to halt vehicle movement.
The Wall surrounded West Berlin and severed all ways by which people could access the capitalist sector in East Germany. Overnight there was division of families, friends and communities with many people on the wrong side suffering the consequences of the divisions.
Reasons for the Construction
The construction of the Berlin Wall served several purposes for the East German and Soviet governments:
- Stemming the Brain Drain: To cure this problem and to keep the citizens in East Germany, the plan was to avoid the internal emigration of skilled personnel and other people of intellectual standard.
- Political Propaganda: Therefore, The Wall gradually became a tool with the which the Soviet Union and East Germany were reinforcing their ideological agenda and their authority over people in East Germany.
- Securing Borders: In this case were a method of practical feats The Wall effectively protected East Germany from possible military and intelligence threats from the West and totally severed eastern sector from the influence of the west.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
It would be misleading to state that the construction of the Berlin Wall ripped the desire of freedom and reunification out of the hearts of the East Germans. Year after year passed, and many more attempts made at attempting an escape from this prison, even though subdues grumblings and mutinies were put down comparing to thirst that never died.
The Role of Gorbachev
In the late 1980s, the control over the Soviet Union was taken over by Mikhail Gorbachev as a General Secretary, which led to the policy of glasnost, which means openness, and policy of perestroika, which means restructuring in the Eastern Bloc countries, including East Germany.
He started political and social liberalization and whatever he did led to a spate of democratization across Eastern Europe. As a result of such change, east Germans too started demanding, freedom, reform within their own country.
Wall falls and multitude people go out for demonstrations
August and September 1989 brought mass protests in the East Germany in which the population asked for a political transformation and the right to leave east Germany and join their families in the west.
On November 9, 1989, the pressures on East Germany’s government proved to be too strong and thus the government declared that its people can freely crossborders. Many people went to the checkpoints, and confused border guards who did not quite understand the new orders, let people through.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The opening of the border checkpoints can be referred to as a historic event, and the East and the West Germans reunited, dancing on the freedom of division. The political processes which led to the fall of the Wall and the reunification of Germany really began soon after, as people used hammers and chisels to start tearing the Wall down in earnest.
Legacy and Lessons Learned
The fall of the Berlin Wall was a pivotal moment in history, marking the end of the Cold War and paving the way for German reunification. It demonstrated the power of people’s desire for freedom and showcased the resilience of individuals against oppressive regimes.
The Berlin Wall serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of division and the importance of maintaining open communication and understanding between nations. Its fall reminds us of the human spirit’s ability to persevere in the face of adversity, and the potential for positive change even in the most challenging circumstances.
Today, fragments of the Berlin Wall serve as powerful symbols of hope, reminding us of the united Germany that emerged and the continuous efforts needed to overcome division and create a more inclusive and interconnected world.
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