The Berlin wall is a spine-chilling relic of the cold war that serves as a remembrance of a world that was greatly divided. Its erection in 1961 was not a random act but the result of years of festering tensions, politicking and ideological confrontation. Its origins can be explained only by entering the convoluted geopolitics of post-World War II Germany and the emerging Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. This post will examine the complex underlying causes of the construction of the Wall and lift the veil over the tangled mess of factors that contributed to this seminal event in the history of the 20 th century.
The Division of Germany after the War: A rich Breeding Ground of Conflict.
Following the destruction of World War II, Germany was occupied by the Allied powers (the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union) that divided Germany into four occupation zones. Berlin, even though it was situated right in the heart of the Soviet zone, was also separated into four sectors. This division corresponded to the larger ideological conflict between the capitalist West and the communist East. The political and economic ideologies were so different that they created a strong feeling of suspicion and rivalry and preempted the future conflict.

The contrast between the economies of East and West Germany was especially sharp. With the Marshall Plan West Germany prospered and grew very quickly economically as compared to East Germany which was burdened with a centrally planned economy. This inequality only contributed to more resentment and migration with East Germans moving to the West in search of opportunity.
The East- West Brain Drain
A mass exodus of East Germans to the West was one of the most important factors contributing to the building of the Wall. This brain drain constituted a significant loss to the communist east German government, in terms of economy and ideology. East Germany was losing skilled laborers, professionals as well as intellectuals, which were crippling its economy and eroding the legitimacy of its communist system.

The simple magnitude of this immigration was frightening to the Soviet Union and its East German satellite state. The numbers of people crossing into West Berlin daily were in thousands and many of them were young and educated people who mostly crossed through the porous borders of the sectors. This ever-present movement of individuals undermined the security of the East German government and informed of its inability to offer its citizens a desirable life.

Soviet Reaction: achieving the Eastern Bloc
With this huge migration the Soviet Union, through Nikita Khrushchev, was compelled to take decisive action. This brain drain and leaking of resources posed a threat to the existence of the East German state which was a major constituent of the Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. Building of the Wall was considered an appropriate action to prevent the downfall of the communistic regime.
A larger cold war strategy was also behind the actions of Khrushchev. The Wall did not simply represent a reaction to emigration, it was a manifestation of the determination of the Soviets and an indication of how they were ready to apply force to keep their satellite states under their dominion. This action intensified the cold war developments greatly, creating a rift between the two super powers.
The Berlin Blockade and Airlift: Confrontation Precedent?
The Berlin Wall was not the first significant clash of the divided city. This pattern of aggressive Soviet action had already been set during the Berlin Blockade of 1948-1949 when the Soviets tried to starve out West Berlin by denying it access to supplies. The Western reaction, the following Berlin Airlift that managed to West Berlin by air proved that the West was ready to challenge the Soviet influence above all.
The blockade showed how delicate the situation was and how stakes were high in controlling Berlin. The Wall, then, was seen as a more lasting answer to the mass emigration issue, to avoid a repeat of the near-disastrous events of the blockade.

The Ideological Gap: Communism and capitalism
In addition to the direct politico-economic reasons, the building of the Wall had a solid basis in the ideological opposition between communism and capitalism. The Wall was a symbol of the basic differences between the two systems which were claiming the representation of a better model of the society organization. This ideological battle was ultimately personified in The Wall which came to symbolize the extreme difference between freedom and tyranny, riches and depravation.

To the West, the Wall was the symbolic violation of human rights and disrespect to the ideas of freedom and self-determination. The picture of the people attempting to flee the communist East frantically became an effective icon of the Cold War conflict. The Wall was turned into a symbol by those struggling to be free in many parts of the world.

The legacies of the Berlin wall- a divided and a hopeful world.
The construction of the Berlin Wall and its presence in the world almost 30 years became the iconic symbol of the Cold War era, the symbol of the geopolitical and ideological division. Its collapse in 1989, a time of great world impact, heralded the demise of the cold war, and the optimistic beginning of a more united world. Nevertheless, the legacy of the Wall still remains to warn us about the threats of the ideological extremism and the significance of the peaceful coexistence.
The question of the complex causes of the construction of the Wall can be answered only with references to a giant number of interconnected factors: the division of Germany or the mass flight of people to West Berlin, Soviet military-strategic considerations, and the irreconcilable differences between communism and capitalism. The Berlin Wall is one of the most firm reminders about the intricacies of history and the legacy of the Cold War.

“`