One of the most dramatic reminders of the Cold War is the Berlin Wall, dividing the city and the world at that time. The building was not an impromptu decision when it was built in 1961; no, it was years of rising tension and chess-moving on behalf of the East German government. Its creation can only be understood when one goes into the intricate detail of the political, economic, and social pressures that the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was under during the period. This posting will examine the complexities of why the wall was erected in the first place with the story being a lot more complicated than just a wall to get out of.
The great flight East to West: The trigger to the Wall.
The most urgent factor that led to the creation of the Berlin wall was the huge number of East Germans who were migrating to West Berlin. After the World War II, Berlin was occupied by the Allied powers, Soviet Union, the United States, Great Britain, and France, with Berlin being divided into four sectors. West Berlin was Geographically situated in East Germany, but it had the freedom and the economic prosperity of the west. Such a sharp contrast produced a very strong motivation encouraging East Germans to pursue a better life. The situation was desperate as people tried to escape risking their lives by mostly tunneling under or climbing over the barriers that were there.
This mass emigration was a big threat to the East German regime. They were not only losing such a large percentage of their people who were also skilled workers and professionals but the migrations also highlighted the fact that their socialist system was failed. The steady flow of defectors was good propaganda by the west pointing out the seemingly supremacy of the west capitalism and freedom. The East German leadership could not continue with this economic and ideological leakage.
The Brain Drain: Skilled Labor Loss and Economics
The magnitude of the population that was leaving East Germany was not only a demographic issue, but a big loss of human capital. Physicians, engineers and other educated professionals were among the people who sought refuge in the West creating massive vacuum in the East German economy. This brain leakage intensified the failing economy of the GDR which made it fail to compete with its western counterpart. Economic impacts of this exodus played a key role in the construction of the Wall.
The Communist Ideology and Control-A Political Necessity
On top of the economic issues, the East Germany government was extremely interested in keeping its communism ideology and keeping its citizens under ultimate control. This steady flow of defectors was a direct challenge to the validity of the East German government as well as its assertions of having formed a better socialist society. The wall was also a very powerful tool that demonstrated their strong belief in communism even when it tofixed them to the extent of isolating themselves.
The wall was more than a physical barrier, it was a very strong political declaration. It reflected the desire of the East Germany government to avoid any infiltration of the western influence and ideologies which they saw as a direct challenge to their rule. This ideological compulsion was surrounded by the larger Cold War policy of the Soviet Union, which was to contain Western expansionism.

Geopolitical Context and Soviet Influence
The Soviet Union was the key influencer in the construction of the Berlin Wall decision. Although the overall responsibility lied with the East German government, the Soviets played a vital role of support and Non-verbal permission. The wall was in the interests of the Soviet as it cemented the split of Germany and potential domino effect of other defections out of the Eastern Bloc. The wall preserved the soviet sphere of influence and denied the West the opportunity to bring unwarranted pressure on East Germany.

A Driving Force: The Failure of the East German Economy
East and West Germany differed economically and this was a major cause of construction of the wall. A centrally planned economy could not work well in East Germany as there were always shortages of goods, production was inefficient, and overall, there was no economic dynamism. West Germany, conversely, enjoyed a spell of brisk economic expansion, the Wirtschaftswunder (“economic miracle”). This difference also enhanced the urge East Germans to flee to the West so that they could enjoy better opportunities and improved standard of living.
The flight of the skilled workers further worsened the economic woes of East Germany resulting in a downward spiral of decay. Efforts by the government to reform the economy were not very successful, which demonstrated the attractiveness of the more successful system of West Germany. The wall, fatefully, offered a method of dealing with this economic failure, instead of tackling the causes of it.

The Berlin Wall: Divide and Repressive History
The Berlin Wall was more than a physical construct, it was a representation of the absolute division between East and West, not only in Berlin but in the whole world. It was a reminder of how the Cold War was about an ideological clash and the extent that authoritarian governments would stop to cling to power. Almost 30 years of the existence of the wall had a dramatic effect on the lives of millions of people, creating their identities and experiences that continue to echo in their memory today.
The fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 was a most significant event in history as this wall carried the Cold war era to a close and ushered in a new phase of reunification and freedom. Nevertheless, by knowing the purposes why it was constructed, we can get to know the history and not repeat the mistakes again, realizing how fragile the peace can be and how crucial the necessity to eliminate systematic inequalities and violations of human rights can be.
In summary, the inauguration of the Berlin Wall was not an isolated incident, rather a complicated culmination of political, economic and social stressors. The overwhelming migration to the West, the necessity to preserve the communistic idea and power, the ineffectiveness of the East Germany economy, and the role of the Soviet Union led to this historic thing. These complex factors help us appreciate this historical event and legacy even more when we understand them better.

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