For those unfamiliar with the history of the Berlin Wall, it’s natural to wonder whether it surrounded the entirety of Berlin or just a specific part. In this article, we will explore the details of the Berlin Wall and its relationship with East Berlin.

The Berlin Wall that came to existence

On August 13, 1961, East Germany, (also known as German Democratic Republic or GDR) built the Berlin Wall. Construction of it was largely aimed at stopping East German citizens from fleeing to West Germany, where they were politically oriented toward Western democracies. The Cold War separation of the United States and the Soviet Union and resulting construction of the wall led straight to the division of Berlin.

The Division of Berlin

After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupied zones controlled by the Allied forces: Soviet Union, United Kingdom, United States and France. It also split the East German city Berlin into passageways and zones. But the Allies grew increasingly divided, and Berlin was split into East Berlin (Soviet sector) and West Berlin (U.S., UK and French control).

West Berlin: An Island within East Germany

In the Soviet controlled territory, West Berlin became for once, part of a unique enclave. East Germany was a communist stronghold, it was a democratic stronghold. The western part of Berlin aligned itself with Western ideologies because it enjoyed better economic and political ties to West Germany.

The Berlin Wall: Believed to be a Barrier Between East and West

In the majority of cases, the Berlin Wall was built to split East Berlin from West Berlin and surrounding East German territory. Comprised of some physical barriers, such as concrete walls, barbed wire, trenches, and guard towers, it was approximately 155 kilometers (96 miles) long.

It is worth mentioning that the Berlin Wall didn’t fully embrace West Berlin. Most of the wall was located along the border between East and West Berlin. However, areas outside of that border were still a part of East Berlin, but were very heavily controlled by the East German authorities.

Effects on East Berlin

Life in East Berlin compared to the West couldn’t have been more different. It became a physical separation of families, friends and communities. This symbolized ideological separation between communist and democracy.

The wall did have a big impact on the daily lives of East Berliners. Already they had limited travel, little access to Western media and goods, and more Stasi (East German secret police) oppression. Those who tried to go across the wall often paid with imprisonment and even death.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall fell November 9, 1989, after more than three decades apart. The reunification of East and West Germany began when the wall fell. The whole episode was a win for democracy, the successful end of the Cold War.

The Berlin Wall fell and Germany united to bring about tremendous changes in Berlin and throughout the country. Today Berlin is a thriving city, one place, not two.

Conclusion

The Berlin Wall was a physical and ideological barrier between West and East Berlin, mainly to keep East Germans from escaping to the democratic West. Not completely surrounding West Berlin, it was a stark reminder of what division caused by the Cold War. Through the fall of the wall in 1989, German reunification was worded.

To understand the significance of the Berlin Wall in history we have to understand the history in place living in an age of separated ideologies. Today Berlin is a testimony to uniting and the power of its people.