A reminder of a divided world, the Berlin Wall, was a shrilling symbol of the Cold War. Its erection on August 13, 1961, was not an impulsive decision but the climax of years of heightening tensions and geostrategic estimations by the East German regime. The context of its creation is rooted in the sophisticated political, economic, and social situation in the post-war Germany. It will go past the unsophisticated reasons and give a comprehensive overview of the many-faceted causes of this notorious obstacle.
The East to West Exodus: The Brain Drain and economic Crisis.
The main motivation of the construction of the Wall was the large scale flight of East Germans to West Berlin. After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones, East Germany (German Democratic Republic or GDR) was under the influence of the Soviets and West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany or FRG) was aligned with the West. The enclave of West Berlin in the midst of East Germany provided a sourcing light of hope, since it epitomized freedom, economic wellbeing as well as a superior quality of living. Such sharp contrast contributed to a constant flow of East Germans who wanted to escape to the West.
This was not just people wanting to get a improved opportunities, but a great loss to the East German regime. The most qualified workers, professionals and intellectuals, the ones most needed in the economic growth of the GDR, were fleeing by the masses. This brain drain paralysed the economy of East Germany which in turn weakened its socialist system which was already ailing. The brain drain also undermined the stability and credibility of the communist government and they had to act fast to isolate the leak.

As a Catalyst, Economic Inequality.
This exodus was stirred by the economic difference between East and West Germany. Whereas West Germany was enjoying the Wirtschaftswunder (“economic miracle”), a time of rapid growth and prosperity, East Germany was saddled with a centrally planned economy that was unable to fulfill the desires of the population. Scarcity of commodities, lack of customer options and absence of economic prosperity motivated multitudes to pursue a brighter future over the border._
The Political Th menace: Loss of Control and Legitimacy
In addition to the economic factors, the ongoing exodus threatened directly the authority and the legitimacy of the East German government. The constant flow of defectors served as the reminder of the inability of the GDR to offer its citizens the desirable life. Every one of the departed individuals was a reminder of the inadequacies of the regime and a possible cause of discontent and challenges. The East German government viewed the exodus as a direct affront to its authority and this weakened its argument that it embodied the desires of the people.

Moreover, the stream of refugees at all times stressed the resources of West Germany and was a political inconvenience to the West. Although West Germany was receiving refugees, the vast influx of people meant that the social services and infrastructure were really strained. The East German government, in its turn, did not want this situation to get out of control anymore, restricting the direct influence on West Germany as well as the indirect pressure this posed on the Western Allies.
Ideology of Implication of Exodus
The brain leakage was not only an economic and political issue, but an ideological one as well. The communist government appeared as a better alternative of the capitalist system bringing a more equal and fairer society. But the never-ceasing flow of citizens escaping to the West directly refuted this statement, discrediting the communist ideology and the very legitimacy of the East German state as such.

Geopolitical Context and Soviet Influence
It is important to realise, that the choice to construct the Wall was not an East German one only. The key influence in the construction was the Soviet Union, which was the leading country in the Eastern Bloc and thus its approval was significant to the construction. The implications of the mass exodus were of a great concern to the Soviets, who viewed it as a possible destabilization of the entire Eastern Bloc and a serious dent in their geopolitical clout.
The Soviet Union was also cautious of possible domino effect as it feared that the flight out of East Germany may fuel similar initiatives in other satellite states and weaken the Soviet influence in the entire Eastern Europe. Thus, the building of the Wall, although committed by the East German government, was beneficial to the Soviets in its assistance in concretizing thepartition of Germany and preserving the cohesiveness of the Eastern Bloc.
Nikita Khrushchev Role
The Soviet Premier at the time, Nikita Khrushchev was greatly involved in the events that led to the construction of the Wall. Although he never gave a direct command to build it, he gave a tacit consent to the plans of the East German government to build it knowing how strategically located East Germany was and how many more would defect otherwise. The Soviet Union gave a tacit approval and, more importantly, the military support needed to make the wall successful.
A Symbol and a Legacy: The Berlin Wall
As such, the Berlin Wall was not just a physical wall, but a sophisticated symbol of the ideological boundary of the Cold War, economic differences, and political power struggle. Its creation was a flailing effort on the part of the East German government, under the careful Soviet Union supervision, to cling to power amidst the defections of its people en masse and the increasing financial turmoil. In 1989, the fall of the wall did not just signify the collapse of a physical barrier, but it also served as a major turning point of the cold war which led to the German reunification and eventually the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The truth about the reasons and the process behind the building of the Berlin Wall is much more complicated, and and simplistic explanations are not enough to take into account the interaction of economical factors, political fear, and geopolitical interests. This enhanced knowledge gives a very important explanation of the Cold War era and how it has shaped the world presentedly.

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