Berlin Wall was a physical separation, and remained in place from 1961 until 1989 between the city of Berlin and its surrounding countries. It was a Cold War symbol and a dividing line between East and West Germany. German Democratic Republic (GDR) initiated the construction of the wall to reduce the movement of its citizens to the West Berlin — seen by them as a直接源源 symbol of freedom and prosperity.
Background
Germany was divided into four zones, 3 of which were occupied by the Allied powers – the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom – with the fourth being occupied by the country France. The city of Berlin was also deeply within the Soviet controlled territory, and also divided up this way.
Established in 1949, east Germany, also known as the German Democratic Republic (or GDR), sat under the sway of the Soviet Union. The country break up was brought on by the United States and its allies, and West Germany was formed as it is now known as the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).
Division between East and West Germany raised tensions and massive immigration from East to West. The GDR responded by building a physical barrier in order to keep its citizens in.
The Berlin Wall Construction
On August 13, 1961, the Berlin Wall was constructed. But the GDR authorities created a 155 kilometre (96 mile) stretch of concrete barrier around the western part of the capital. There was a concrete wall one layer on top of another; barbed wire fencing, and guard towers.
The principal intention was to sever East Berlin, under the auspices of the GDR, from West Berlin under the power of the Western Allies. Hence it can be concluded that East Berlin was separated from West Berlin.
The Impact of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall affected everyone who lived in East as well as West Berlin. The wall meant freedom as well as separation from family and friends that lived in West Berlin to East Berlin’s citizens. Crossing the wall was a heavy process, there were tons of obstacles when trying to get across the wall, and they were heavily restricted in their movements.
Furthermore, the wall was accompanied by a militarized zone, the “Death Strip,” that surrounds it. This was heavily fortified with guard towers, anti vehicle trenches and electrified fences in which escaping was very risky.
The wall was a constant reminder to the citizens of West Berlin that there is a wall between East and West Germany. It stood for ideological differences between the free world and the communist Soviet regime.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
He was the witness of the Berlin Wall, whose scarring of cold war was nearly three decades long. But the political complexion of Europe was changing and it was starting to build pressure for Germany to be reunited.
In 1989 further mass protests and demonstrations broke out in East Germany, calling for both political reform and the end of the wall. On Nov. 9, 1989, the GDR announced that its citizens were free to travel to the West. The physical barriers were overcome with help from border guards — thousands of people flocked to the wall.
The Berlin Wall was one step closer to the end. Eventually the unification of East and West Germany was inevitable; this took place formally on October 3, 1990.
Conclusion
West Berlin’s Berlin Wall separated it from East Berlin and marked the divide of East and West Germany. It was a physical barrier, meant to keep people from moving and serve as a symbol of the Cold War. The falling of the wall in 1989 was a turning point for history and marked the end of the Cold War, but the reunification of Germany as well.