The Rise of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a physical barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in 1961 to separate
East and West Berlin during the height of the Cold War. The wall extended for a total of 155 kilometers (96 miles),
dividing the city into two distinct sectors. Its primary purpose was to prevent defections from East Germany to West
Germany, which had become a major embarrassment for the East German government.
The construction of the wall began on the night of August 12-13, 1961, catching many by surprise. The East German authorities
erected a barbed-wire fence, which was gradually fortified with concrete elements, guard towers, and anti-vehicle trenches.
In the years that followed, the wall underwent several phases of reinforcement, making it an imposing and nearly impenetrable
fortification.
The Function and Symbolism of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall served two purposes. On the one hand, it was an actual fence that separated two parts of the city: east and west Berlin.
On the other hand, it became a symbol of the East and the communists and the West and the democrats.
world. This wall still symbolizes the ideological and political divide that characterized countries during the era of cold war.
It also physically isolated families, friends, and loves ones from each other, as the prison was surrounded by a towering concrete structure. The wall tore
severed the very fabric of the city and put great burdens on the inhabitants of both the city and its periphery.
Most tried to perform escape stunts that others dubbed suicide missions while some were killed before they could be transferred.
families for decades.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The lifting of the Wall in Berlin on 9 November Has become one of significant historical milestones. This it came as result of a series
of events, which were associated with thecomplex of various tendencies, connected withpopular movements and political changes in Eastern Europe. The reunification of Germany did not take long.
which eventually led to the break up of the soviet union.
This great event proved that people wanted freedom and to be in union with their neighbors. The fact that reduction of a dozen countries, and also the collapse of the Berlin Guard emblem of the socialist union uniting them.
Freed from an authoritarian government and celebrating the victory of freedom.
Relative and remnants of the Berlin Wall
However there is an overwhelming historical and symbolic part of the Berlin Wall which is still remains the reminiscence and up till the present day it keeps telling the story of
a challenge that people in a divided country go through. Some of parts of such wall has been retained and turned into memorials at different sites.
like the one depicted in old Berlin’s East Side Gallery where original artwork now adorns only parts of . These colorful murals are still bright and thus, they are still captivating to the Please refer to Figure 2 below:
are also symbolic of struggle and loss as well as celebration of human strength.
Now the Berlin Wall is a crucial historical symbol and is a symbol of freedom, people’s unity and the fight against division.
the consequences of division. It is a symbol of triumph of spirit and desire of beast to survive.
Visiting the Berlin Wall
Should you find yourself free to preset in Berlin, you should never skip the chance to pay a visit to what is left of the once famous Berlin Wall. The East Side Gallery,
sitting on a 1.3-kilometer (0.8-mile) length of the wall, provides a visual timeline of history in its color.
artworks. The Checkpoint Charlie Museum is also worth a visit because it offers a brief history of the division of the city.
a two minute overview of Berlin’s Wall history and the Holocaust Memorial, also known as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
Visiting these sites helps you get an insite to the effects that the Berlin Wall brought on the lives of the people that it direc
because of it and world in general.
Conclusion
The Berlin Wall, once a symbol of division and oppression, now stands as a testimony to the resilience and triumph of the
human spirit. Its historical significance and the lessons it imparts about the consequences of division continue to resonate
in today’s world. By understanding the story behind the Berlin Wall, we gain insight into the struggles faced by individuals
during the Cold War and appreciate the importance of freedom, unity, and the pursuit of a better future.
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