Introduction

The Berlin Wall was strong symbol of the cold war period which lasted from 1947 to 1991. Erected in 1961, it divided the city of Berlin into two parts: Under Soviet control, one part of East Berlin and one part of West Berlin controlled by NATO and the Western Allies. So this post takes a look at the significance of the Berlin Wall during the Cold War, and what it did for the city of Berlin and the world as a whole.

What it was for, the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was built to keep East Germans from fleeing to the democratic West. There were stark differences between the two sides in the division of Germany after World War II. In West Germany, there was economic prosperity, political freedom; in East Germany, an economy in decline, with a Soviet style dictatorship.

It was the brain drain East German government was seeking to stop, but in large numbers, its population was leaving. They then stood the Berlin Wall up: concrete barriers, barbed wire, guard towers, no man’s land.

Impact on Berlin

The wall was built, the result of which was physical separation of families, friends and communities. One morning, many East Berliners woke up to find they had been cut off from loved ones on the other side. Those living close to the wall had no movement and constant surveillance to their lives.

The division of Berlin added further hardship on the East German economy. East Berlin died under Soviet control; West Berlin bloomed into a thriving hub of trade, culture and commerce.

Symbol of the Cold War

During the Cold War the Berlin Wall became a powerful symbol for the division between democracy and communism. The Iron Curtain stood as a separate demarcation line with the Eastern Bloc and the Western Allies.

One of Ronald Reagan’s most well known speeches was at the Berlin Wall, where he famously said “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” The image of the wall was meant to be symbolic of that struggle between freedom and oppression and this speech further emphasized that very point.

Crossing the Berlin Wall Attempts

Many East Germans tried to cross the Berlin Wall, despite the risk. Others thought up complicated ways of escape ranging from underground tunnels, to hot air balloons. Others decided to do something desperate; they jumped from buildings near the wall.

Many were lost in their escape attempts; all were perilous. They, however, had shown that the East German population was determined and wanted to be free.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

It was a physical and ideological barrier for 28 years, the Berlin Wall. But, as the Cold War died out in the late 1980’s, the wall’s relevance began to fade.

In November 1989, East German government announced that citizens were able to cross the boarder freely due to mass protests and political changes. Thousands of East Berliners welcomed the end of the wall by crowding and chipping away pieces as souvenirs.

The fall of the Berlin Wall was a marvellous moment in history, the end of the Cold War and the reuniting of Germany.

Conclusion

During the Cold War, the Berlin Wall was seen as meant for division, oppression, and struggle for freedom. The people of Berlin were profoundly moved by it and looked on it as a powerful symbol of ideological conflict between communism and democracy.

The Berlin Wall no longer stands, but its memory serves the purpose of freedom, unity and the keeping of human rights.