How Did the Soviet Union React to the Construction of the Berlin Wall?
Upon its construction in 1961, the Berlin Wall affected not only the Berliners, but it also profoundly changed the overall Cold War geopolitical segment of the city. The Soviet Union who had control of East Berlin was however a main feature of the construction and the reaction following it.
Background: The Construction of the Berlin Wall
Before going into the Soviet Union’s reaction, it is useful to take a look at what provoked the Berlin Wall to be built. Following World War II, Germany was split into four areas, each controlled by one of the Allies: the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain and France. And in Berlin, lying in the Soviet zone, too, was divided into four sectors. However, tensions grew as increasing numbers of East Germans decided to leave for West Germany to find better prospects and escape Soviet rule. This prompted the Soviet Union to respond in a dramatic fashion, found in the construction of the Berlin Wall.
The Soviet Union’s Motivations
The Soviet union after were reasons promoting the construction of berlin wall.
Defending East Germany: The Soviet Union was keen to prevent the West receiving skilled workers and intellectuals. By building the wall, they tried to stop the mass exodus and was promised to stabilize East Germany.
Symbolic Divide: Berlin Wall became a literal embodiment of bipolarism between communist East and communist West. It was a defiant message to the world that East Germany was in the Soviet camp and remained there.
Boosting Propaganda: The Soviet Union made use of the wall construction as a propaganda instrument. They portrayed building the wall as a necessary response to Western influence and espionage threatening East Germans.
Initial Soviet Reaction
When the wall was built, officially Soviets were claiming no responsibility for it and calling upon activities of East German Government. But it is now known that the choice and execution of the decision, were insidiously by the Soviet leadership.
It was Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev who was basically the drive behind supporting the construction and considered it a step to save East Germany. The Soviet Union’s very first response was therefore one of backing and endorsement.
East Germany’s SED and Mutual Support
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the ruling party in East Germany, affiliated itself closely with the Soviet Union. After the building of the wall it set a firm stamp of disapproval behind the Soviet decision.
As part of this policy, the SED and the Soviet Union worked together to enforce strict boundary controls, build the wall and operate a shoot-to-kill policy for those seeking to cross. This alliance showed that both partners did not want East Germany to be pulled back from the West.
International Reactions to Soviet Union’s Role
Internationally, international reaction to the construction of the Berlin Wall was heavy criticism and larger condemnation of the SovietUnion for their actions. The western powers saw it as a gross infringement of humanity and a stark manifestation of the political division of Europe.
But despite all the above the soviet union and the rest of the eastern bloc argued to defend their deeds to build brezenten gives necessary method to shield their socialist populaces from the spread range of things from the community group.
Conclusion
The Soviet reactions to Berlin Wall was mainly driven by its plan to ensure East Germany, would rally the ideological struggle and make propagandely. Though publicly disclaiming any connection it had, obvious to everyone was that the Soviet Union was heavily involved in building and patrolling of the wall. Wall had stood as mounted symbol to divide the Eastern and Western for almost three decades,алися until finally dropping in 1989.
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