Whether Berlin during the Cold War was “worse” on the East side or the West side is not a simple question. It is a tremendously complex question, and it requires a complex response that is not generalizing. Ajorro: Any effort to point out a conclusive winner serves to disregard the complexities of life witnessed under two radically divergent systems of operations that are marked by their own form of oppression and benefits. This discussion examines the differing experiences of East and West Berlin with the understanding that it is complicated to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each.).
everyday East Berlin: The Attraction and the Tyranny of the GDR
The capital of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) East Berlin had an image of socialist utopia, the society aimed at equality and social justice. Propaganda was used to display bustling communities, educational development, and cheap housing. This meticulously cultivated image, though, concealed an ugly truth of omnipresent surveillance, restrictions of various freedoms, and an oppressive and strict state machine. The secret police of the GDR, the Stasi, infiltrated all serve the society creating an atmosphere of fear and mistrust all the time.

The Shadow of Stasi: Spying and Oppression
The everyday life was shadowed by the omnipresence of the Stasi. There were informants in all sections of society, in workplaces, within families, and this led to a high level of paranoia and self-censorship. Dissidents were harassed, jailed and in most cases, their lives and career were ruined. The very magnitude of the Stasi apparatus operations, involving a huge number of informants and surveillance technologies, produced the climate of terror, in which free expression was chilled, and the normal process of social intercourse was corrupted.

Poverty and scarce Opportunities in Economic Issues.
Although the centrally planned economy of the GDR promised economic equality, it could not fulfill its pledges. There were frequent shortages of basic goods and the quality of products was frequently way below Western standards. The chances of vertical movement were few and promotion often followed party loyalty as opposed to performance. The economic stagnation smothered innovation and made people feel that they were stuck in a system that would not allow them to have a better life.
Manipulated Information and restricted Liberties
In East Berlin, information personalities were restricted. The press was completely state-owned and showed a very biased and unrealistic view of the world. West travel was also very much limited so East Berliners had very little contact with other views and ways of life. This press management formed the mental model of East Berliners, restricting their perception of the external world and strengthening the official version of things.

Life in West Berlin: Liberties and Constraints in a divided City
West Berlin, a democracy isolated in communist East Germany, provided a sharp contrast to the east Berlin. It had a healthy free market economy, the freedom of speech and assembly as well as access to vast amounts of information and cultural experiences. But its survival as a democratic island in a communist hostile state brought along with it its own problems and fears).
Social Inequality and Economic Prosperity
West Berlin had high economic success supported by the Marshall plan and the incorporation into the West German economy. This wealth, though, was not spread equally, and this led to social inequalities that reflected on those of the other Western capitalist societies. This was because the affluence disparity that existed between the rich and the poor generated high levels of social tension in the city. There was still unemployment and poverty despite the relative prosperity in the city.

The ever-present Danger of the Berlin Wall
The ubiquitous Berlin Wall was not only a physical and psychological border, but also separated families, friends and communities. It cast a big dark shadow on the lives of West Berliners that served as a constant reminder of how close the communist regime was and how fearsome the danger of conflict always was. Presence of The Wall made them view the concept of security and freedom in the most distinct manners.
Psychological Division
The Berlin partition affected the authors psychologically. Enjoying more freedoms, West Berliners lived, however, having in the back of their minds the knowledge of the repressive system right behind the Wall. Such closeness created the precariousness and vulnerability. The mental impact of the segregation could not be erased collectively in the identity of the city.

Like Comparing the Incomparable: A Moderate View.
Finally, the attempt to qualify one of the sides as worse than the other is an oversimplification. East and West Berlin each had their problems and benefits. The East Berliners enjoyed a level of social security and equality that was not present in the west, however, at the expense of basic freedoms and individual rights. The West Berliners had more liberties and more economic prospects, yet they were under the frequent threat of the communist regime and the omnipresent trace of the Wall.

Life of people in both sectors was varied and complicated with a great number of influencing factors such as social status, political belonging, and other personal conditions. To make a balanced judgment, it is imperative to consider the scope of the experiences and not to make generalizations about one or the other party. History requires us to learn the intricacies of both systems and the realities of people who experienced them both.
Conclusion: Apprehending the subtlety of divided Berlin
Whether it was the west or the east of Berlin that was worse off, is in the end a subjective question, which strongly relies on priorities and values of the individual. Both West and East Berlin were offering very different systems, which had their strong and weak points. Only by lofixeding at the particularities of life in both halves – whether it be the omnipresent surveillance of the Stasi or the economic differences of West Berlin – we can better understand the complications of life under a divided city and circumvent the issue of making simplistic comparisons. These complexities are significant to know about the history of the 20 th century in detail and about the unforgettable heritage of the Cold War.

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