In the Cold War, Berlin began to be the symbol of the split between the ‘West’ and the ‘Soviet block’. East Berlin and West Berlin were each claimed in turn; West Berlin was claimed in spite of the presence of Western Allies and East Berlin, now under Soviet administrative authority. But why was she able to keep her freedom in West Berlin? So let’s see what’s interesting about the past.
1. Historical Background
The winning Allies, the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France, split Germany into four occupation zones following World War II. Berlin, in the Soviet zone, likewise had four sections. Tensions between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union grew throughout time, which resulted in the Soviet Union blocking of West Berlin 1948. This signaled the start of Berlin’s Cold War standoff.
2. The Berlin Airlift.
The Western Allies started the Berlin Airlift, a large-scale operation to provide food, fuel, and other basic supplies to West Berlin in reaction to the Soviet embargo. From June 1948 to May 1949, aircraft loaded products at Tempelhof Airport, finally delivering about two million tonnes. This effective operation proved Western Allies’ will to safeguard West Berlin’s freedom.
3. Two German States’ Establishing
Comprising the Western occupation zones, the Federal Republic of Germany, sometimes known as West Germany, was founded in 1949. East Germany, the German Democratic Republic, developed in the Soviet zone alongside East Berlin. West Berlin stayed under Western Allies’ control even though it was physically inside East Germany.
4. The wall of Berlin
The Berlin Wall the Soviet Union built in 1961 physically split the city and stopped individuals from traveling between East and West Berlin. Along with bolstering East German government control over its people, this barrier sought to prevent mass emigration of East Germans to the West. The Berlin Wall turned into a moving emblem of the gulf separating the free world from the Communist bloc.
5. The Western Allies’ Support
The Western Allies—especially the United States—expressed their will to defend West Berlin’s freedom during the Cold War. Diplomatic comments, military presence in the city, and economic assistance clearly show this dedication. Allied personnel’s presence demonstrated their will to protect West Berliners’ rights.
6. The Berlin Wall’s Fall
East Germany exploded in demonstrations in 1989 as the Cold War started to relax. Rising civilian pressure drove the administration to declare East Germans unfettered travel to the West was possible. By symbolizing the end of the Cold War era and therefore reuniting families, this announcement virtually destroyed the Berlin Wall.
Finish
The will of the Western Allies; the effective Berlin Airlift; and the geopolitical context of the city being split, allowed West Berlin to stand free during the Cold War. After the Berlin Wall fell, West Berliners’ freedom really depended on Western Allies’ backing and tenacity. This is an age of history calling to mind how people withstood the Cold War.
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