Welcome to the Cold War Berlin Wall Fall, a detailed guide. This article will look at the history, the significance and the aftermath of this historic event. If you’re new to this or simply need a refresher, this guide contains everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
- History of the Berlin Wall
- Berlin Wall construction
- Daily Life at the Berlin Wall
- The Fall of the Berlin Wall
- Legacy of the Berlin Wall
History of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a 96 mi (155 km) long physical and ideological barrier that was built in 1961 by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in the middle of the Cold War, and stood until 1989. An instrument of division between Western democracies and Eastern Bloc communist states, it split East Berlin from West Berlin.
The roots of the Berlin Wall can be traced back to the end of World War II when Germany was divided into four zones of occupation: British, French, American and Soviet. Even when the city of Berlin was deep in the Soviet controlled zone, the city was similarly divided into sectors.
Over time tensions grew between the western allies and the Soviet Union as the relationship between the latter and the western powers got worse and worse. In an effort to keep East German residents from defecting to the West, East German authorities chose to build a vanquish.
Berlin Wall construction
On August 13, 1961 the Berlin Wall was built. The wall was rock hard concrete, about 12 feet high and 100 miles long, with a wide area called the ‘Death Strip’ inside that was bristling with watchtowers, anti-vehicle trenches and barbed wire.
At first, the border was not so difficult to cross and many East Germans would travel to West Berlin for work, or to be with their families. Tensions mounted, though, and the East German government ended up imposing stiff border controls to prevent their citizens’ mass exodus.
The Impact on Daily Life
Construction of the Berlin Wall had a very big effect on the day to day life of the people living on both sides of the wall. Families were split up and friendships broken, and individuals were left on the wrong side.
East Berliners were barred from traveling outside of the country, couldn’t access much information, and had a very regimented economy. On the other hand, West Berlin was living in a capitalist society, and enjoying more personal freedoms.
An authorisation was given to East German border guards to use lethal force if necessary, and escape attempts had become risky and dangerous. While trying to cross the wall many were killed. The fighting was only strengthened by these tragedies and resilience stories.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
On November 9, 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall was a turning point on world history. An event that would reunite a divided nation was the product of years of pressure from citizens, political changes in the Soviet Union, and a desire for freedom.
A series of peaceful demonstrations in East Germany demanding political reforms and the end of the strict policies was the catalyst for the fall of the Berlin Wall. The East German government was under increasing pressure to change.
On the night of November 9, 1989, a government official blundered, and said East Germans could cross the border ‘freely.’ Overwhelmed border guards had no choice but to let hundreds of thousands of people pass at the checkpoints, thousands of people.
On both sides of the wall, people — on opposite sides of the barrier — cheered and chipped away at the concrete separating them, a symbol of German reunification and the end of the Cold War.
Legacy of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall had to fall, and it did, and it changed Germany, and the world. And it was the last nail in the Soviet Union’s coffin and the end of the Cold War, as East and West Germany reunited to become a sovereign nation.
Today, pieces of the Berlin Wall are historic reminders of the division and the fight for freedom. It’s also a memorial to the Berlin Wall: Visitors can walk among preserved sections of the wall, exhibitions and stories about those who lived under the separation.
However, the Berlin Wall Fall shall be evidence for the strength of unity, resilience and freedom. It reminds us all that peace and understanding remain important in a world we once were divided.
We hope this Cold War Berlin Wall Fall guide has provided a better understanding of this huge moment in world history. For more information, go further in resources and to museums about the Berlin Wall.