Our guide explores every aspect of the Berlin Wall’s history. This blog post guides you through Berlin Wall history by looking at its construction and impact while discussing its eventual fall.
- Introduction
The Berlin Wall, known as “Berliner Mauer” in German, was a physical barrier constructed in 1961 that divided the city of Berlin into two separate entities: West Berlin and East Berlin. The German Democratic Republic created this wall as the communist government of East Germany to show the conflict that divided East from West during Cold War times.
- The Berlin Wall grew from plans to build a wall through Berlin.
On August 13 1961 construction started on the Berlin Wall which established an actual and spiritual separation between East and West Berlin. The main goal was to stop people in East Germany from escaping to the free Western part to live better lives.
First the wall started as barbed wire fences with barriers but developers later added concrete blocks alongside watch towers and anti-vehicle protection trenches. The structure ran 155 kilometers (96 miles) and contained 302 watchtowers and 20 bunkers spread out across its full length.
- The construction of this border changed life for Berlin residents and German inhabitants of the city.
The Berlin Wall’s erection made heavy changes to life for all Berlin residents. Berlin’s population suffered when family connections broke apart and close relationships fell apart because people faced control by authorities and restrictions on their movements.
Eastern Germans died trying to cross into Western territories through border control. The wall claimed 140 lives from attempts to escape. Residents attempted to cross the wall by building underground passages and throwing themselves out windows above it.
- Life in Divided Berlin
Building the barrier shifted everyday life for Berlin’s people. The wall created needless challenges for residents trying to perform simple tasks from commuting to work to seeing family and making purchases.
The wall created difficulties in many parts of daily routines. People from West Berlin must obtain permission to go into the eastern section but East Berlin residents received limits when traveling to the western zone. Both sides of the wall separated families which prevented anyone from contacting their loved ones across the barrier.
The wall produced financial struggles for everyone involved. West Berlin grew rich while East Berlin lost value and stayed still.
- The Fall of the Berlin Wall
In November 1989, East and West Germans unified when the Berlin Wall crumbled after stretching its impact across 28 years. Germans from both sides of the country shared a powerful sense of joy when the wall came down.
When the Berlin Wall came down Germany started taking steps toward becoming a single country. The destruction of the Berlin Wall brought both the Cold War to its conclusion and established a pivotal moment in world history. The wall that split their city was demolished from city blocks by public action.
- The Legacy of the Berlin Wall
From Berlin Wall stories we learn how freedom matters and how divisions lead to negative results.
Berliners’ difficult journey took the structure of the wall into a lasting monument that commemorates their struggle and celebrates their unification. Tourists have access to multiple sections of the preserved wall including East Side Gallery where artists painted bright murals.
People globally draw inspiration from this historic event to advance peaceful solutions in conflicts and eliminate barriers between nations.
Conclusion
Throughout its building phase and eventual destruction the Berlin Wall represented a key moment in world history. The Berlin Wall served as a reminder of human suffering yet showed the power of people fighting for their freedom. Today we learn from the Berlin Wall experience that all people deserve equal rights while staying united against division.
Our thorough investigation of Berlin Wall history has brought clarity about this important period in human progress.