The Berlin Wall is one of the most powerful symbols of the Cold War. After World War II, Germany was divided into east and west. The west belonged to the allied countries of the United States, Great Britain and France while the east belonged to the soviet union. Soviet union created a state called the DDR, which stands for democratic deutsch republic. There was no direct fight between them but there was great hostility. But then the capital of Germany, Berlin, was divided into 2 halves as well and the east belonged to the soviet union and this occurred during the year of 1945. The eastern part of Berlin was a communist state and many Germans did not want to live in a communist country therefore they moved to west berlin to settle or farther in west Germany. As time passed, the number of people leaving east berlin increased despite the effort east germaners put for them to stay. The Soviet and East German leaders began to worry that they were losing too many people.
By the time of 1961, four million people had left East Germany with their dissatisfaction of life. The numbers just kept rising People were free to go back and forth between East and West until then. All of them heard that the days of a free West Berlin were numbered. On the night of August 12 and August 13, people were preparing to go on their escape route to start a fresh life in East Germany. Avoiding attracting East German police (the Vopos), they had to go one by one crossing the border. During the night of August 14, 1961 The Berlin wall was build out of barb wires and armed guards. It led all along for miles to the center of the city The purpose of this wall was to stop western “fascists” in entering East Germany and to prevent people from leaving. Overnight people lost their jobs and were separated from their families. The wall was later built with concrete and anyone
caught trying to escape East Germany was shot. The escaping mission caused people to panic in confusion.
Gradually, the loopholes were closed with a wall of concrete 8ft high. People grew more desperate and guards were instructed to shoot anyone who attempted to run away. Gunter Liftin was the first to be shot dead after attempting to reach West Germany by swimming across the Teltow canal. Bernauer strasse was were dramatic incidents occurred such as leaving the front door of your house meant passing communist East to west therefore eventually houses were evacuated. The house fronts became the wall. This eventually led to the loss of customers at stores, the separated communities that once were united and only military personnel’s and foreigners with visa were allowed to cross. The pain of the separation led to an irrational manner on both sides. People lost jobs, friends or lovers on the other side of the wall. The wall disrupted the everyday lives of Berliners in a build up of small actions.
The Berlin Blockade was the starving of the western-occupied Berlin sector by Soviet forces. With the soviet union’s air access to west berlin, the Americans and the British managed to airlift food and fuel into east Berlin. 4,500 tons of supplies was estimated to keep the population alive and an aircraft at the time can only carry 3 tons. Despite their access, it was narrowed down to three narrow air corridors that they were limited to and if exceeded, Soviet fighters would have attacked them with a valid excuse. There was no questioning of why Easterners desired immigrating to the West at this point. With higher wages and better living condition, as well as the necessary freedom – West Germany represented “hope”. The Eastern side of Germany wasn’t also in a good economic state nor political unlike Western Germany.
On one side, people were democracy and prosperity; on the other were oppression and shortages. Its existence served the interests of the west as well as those of the east. And its fall during the year 1989 was predicted to create a host of new problems. It began with the passion of Soviet Leader’s, Nikita Khrushchev, desire to bury Capitalism but by the 1980’s, economic progress in Eastern Germany shattered making the Soviet bloc hopeless. Their living conditions were outdated and inefficient where as West had technology and high living standards.
By 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union and ended the cold war with intentions of saving communism not ending it. Mikhail did the following for economic reasons such as the SU purchasing weapons they couldn't afford. The collapse of communism led to the breaking of the Berlin Wall after 3 decades, which was then replaced by border crossings. Despite its communists ruling East Germany, the wall was an international border were people had exit visas crossing. The division of the city was over.
By 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union and ended the cold war with intentions of saving communism not ending it. Mikhail did the following for economic reasons such as the SU purchasing weapons they couldn't afford. The collapse of communism led to the breaking of the Berlin Wall after 3 decades, which was then replaced by border crossings. Despite its communists ruling East Germany, the wall was an international border were people had exit visas crossing. The division of the city was over.
Resources:
Kaplan, Fred. "Why Was Berlin the Key to the Cold War?" N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2009/11/why_berlin_mattered.html>.
"The Cold War." For Kids: Berlin Wall. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.ducksters.com/history/cold_war/berlin_wall.php>.
"Berlin Wall." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. <http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall>.
"The Cold War in Berlin." - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/The-Cold-…
"The Fall of Berlin Wall - Berlin Wall History." The Fall of Berlin Wall - Berlin Wall History. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.dailysoft.com/berlinwall/history/fall-of-berlinwall.htm>.