The state capital of Germany, Berlin became a world divisions symbol during the cold war. Separated into two halves the city was a microcosm of the Cold War between the communists of the Eastern Bloc and the democrats of the free West. This article expects to present the side of the Berlin that was taken over by communists and give some insights to its background and its influence that left a major imprint of the city and its people.
Background: The Origins of the Divide
In the aftermath of World War II, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the victorious Allied powers: four major nations of the world namely the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and france. The same year, Germany was divided among the Allies, and Soviet zone included Berlin four sectors as well. This division was the cause of the later split of the city altogether.
The Eastern Side: The Rise of Communism
Ideological rivalry between America and thecommunists became much clearer as rivalry between the twosuperpowers giant heightened. The Eastern side of Berlin occupied by Soviet union accepted communism as the political and an economical system.
The German Democratic Republic (GDR) also more commonly referred to as East Germany was formed in 1949 and had a close relationship with the Soviet Union and was receiving support from the Soviets in form of technical assistance. The GDR deliberately established East Berlin as the capital of the newly arisen socialist state.
The Soviet authorities became dictatorial, centralized economy and political ties and quelled freedom of political speech in East Germany. Ku-phone concentrated on industrialization and commune cultivation; they emphasized the ideology of loyalty toward the communism party.
The Western Side: Defenders of Democracy
During the cold war, the west Berlin which was administered by United States, Britain and France represented a free world in the middle of the soviet bloc east Berlin. West Berlin was a dome of the Western civilization in the socialist east Germany.
Having the support of their respective western powers, West Berlin had far more political liberty, such as multiparty democracy and free market economy. Adding to the division of the city, the issue of currency was put into practice in 1948 when the Deutsche Mark replaced the old money that was in circulation.
The Berlin Wall: The Concrete Barrier to Unity
The level of animosity between east and the west Germans rose with time as the cold war intensified so did the rate and influx of people fleeing east Germany to west. In order to stop this trend of emigration the East German government with the consent of the Soviet Union put up the Berlin Wall in 1961.
The Berlin Wall was a structure barrier that for 96 miles, completely surrounding west Berlin from East Germany. That was its mission – to check the population’s exodus from the communism side to the democracy side. The wall represented the part of the city and the Cold War’s aftermath; it was a bitter memory.
Effects on Berlin and Its People
Mainly for nearly thirty years, the symbol of communism and democracy was represented by Berlin wall. Lovely relations became separated; some people using this tragedy as an opportunity to change their lives. They were able to symbolize the ‘wall’ that the oppressive regime was putting society behind.
In terms of economics West Berlin enjoyed prosperity that was brought by the support of the western powers. It was transforming into a cultural and arts hub where people from all over the glob… And while West Berlin thrived economically and politically people in East Berlin lived miserably; the Soviet Union govern idealizing every aspect of it.
The Fall of the Wall: A Unified Berlin
The last piece of the Germany Wall fell on November 9, 1989 after a series of non violent demonstrations against the eastern Germany regime. This particular event marked a major point of Germany reunification process.
The breaking down of the Berlin city wall made it possible for the two Germany to re-unite. The free German Democratic Republic was no more on the 3rd October 1990 after Germany was reunified under democratic political system.
Legacy and Remembrance
Cold war Berlin and its citizens are shaped by experience of communism in east Berlin and freedom in western part of the city. Now only pieces and fragments of the wall can be found all over the remaining city – and this is the symbolic message that people experienced if they had to live behind or in front of the Wall.
Tourism in Berlin gives a chance to make a walk through the remnants of history and observe how the divided city slowly turns into one of the most prosperous and successful capitals in Europe. Museum, memorials, and historical organization offer an understanding of life in Berlin in the middle of the cold war.
All in all, the eastern part of the city was the one occupied by the communists. The duality between communism and democracy demarcated the city literally as well as socially, politically, and economically. The demolition of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany are now iconic symbols of hope in human spirit irrespective the cost.
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