What Was the Berlin Wall and Why Was It Built?
The Berlin Wall was the physical divide of the city Berlin from 1961 to 1989. It was erected by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) to split East Berlin from West Berlin. The main intention of the wall was to prevent the huge inflow of East Germans to the more prosperous West Germany from occurring. It, in time, became an iconic representation of the Cold War, and also the differences between Eastern and Western Blocs.
The Construction of the Berlin Wall
The erection of the Berlin wall started in August 13, 1961. It was a wall made of concrete that was 155 kilometers (96 miles) long and possessed a lot of security features like barbed wire fences, sentry towers and a big “death strip”. The wall was effectively built overnight, leaving many who were not expecting this to see it done.
The Reasons Behind the Construction
Several reasons were responsible for the building of the Berlin Wall:
- Mass Migration: Between World war 2 and 60 thousand east germans flee to west germnay as they seek better economic prospects and political freedom. This brain drain cost East Germany dear in the economic terms.
- Political Strains: Germany’s partition along with East and West after Completing the World War II caused ideological differences and escalating tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union.
- Cold War Proxy: The Berlin Wall grew into the physical representation of much greater struggle between US and SU. It epitomized the Iron Curtain between communism’s East and democracy’s West.
The Impact of the Berlin Wall
The building of Berlin Wall was a major change:
- Physical Barrier: The wall effectively severed the connection between West Berlin and East Germany preventing the inhabitants of the eastern sector to maintain their position in the western part of the city.
- Families Divided: Many families and loved ones were split apart by the wall – a situation which saw them unable to visit or communicate one another for decades.
- Symbol of Oppression: The Berlin Wall was a strong symbol of oppression and the denial of fundamental human rights. It symbolised the fight for freedom and a wish for re-unification.
- Collapse and Reunification: The coming down of the Soviet Union and force from both East and West Germans, the Berlin Wall lastly tumbled on November 9, 1989. This event marked a turning in history and resulted in the reunification of Germany.
Visiting the Berlin Wall Today
Today, parts of the Berlin Wall can be seen all over Berlin as a memory of the city’s troubled past. Checkpoints Charlie and Checkpoint Bravo, both former border crossings between East and West Berlin, are a popular tourist destinations. The East Side Gallery, a strech of the wall decorated with manifold polychrome wall paintings – is also worth seeing.
Lessons from the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall is a chilling reminder that freedom has a price and it is the price we pay for allowing divisions to be created. It signifies the victory of human spirit, as well as the quest for harmony, prosperity and peace.
As we remember the past of the Berlin Wall, we are reminded of the importance then and ever of living understanding, of living tolerance, of living the life of the world on such a way that walls are torn down, both the walls we can see and touch, and the walls we cannot see or touch.
Table of Contents
