This was a very significant point in history, this was when politics from the United States and the Soviet Union were sited. Berlin was one of those most iconic and symbolic cities of this era. For this beginner’s guide, we’ll look at the fascinating history and core features of Cold War Berlin.
1. The Division of Berlin
After World War II, Berlin split into east and west, with the West Berlin controlled by the western impotence, and East Berlin by the Soviet Union. This division was a reflection of the broader (larger) cleavage existing between the democratic West and communist East.
Key facts:
A Berlin Wall was built in 1961 separating East and West Berlin.
The most famous border crossing point between the two sides was called checkpoints Charlie.
- Ideological Differences
The Berlin was divided by the clash of ideologies – West and Soviet Union. Democracy, capitalism, individual freedoms were promoted by the West; communism, state control, collective goals were promoted by the Soviet Union.
Key facts:
A capitalist system thrived in West Berlin, and those valuable people and investment flocked there.
An economy was planned in East Berlin, with a lot of the state control.
2.1. The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall is that representation of the division between East and West Berlin. It served on the Iron Curtain and the Cold War as a symbol.
Key facts:
Concrete walls, watchtowers and checkpoints made up the wall.
It was extraordinarily risky to escape East Berlin to the West, as any caught would pay with their lives.
2.2. The Airlift
When the Cold War was in place, the Soviets tried to refute West Berlin’s entry through crushing off its supplies. To that end, the Western Allies started the Berlin Airlift.
Key facts:
From 1948 to 1949 the Berlin Airlift took place.
Across the border from Soviet blockaded West Berlin, supplies were flown in by air.
3. Cold War Spies
During the Cold War, the city of Berlin divided became an unknown espionage hotspot. Both sides had used spies and intelligence agencies to collect information and edge.
Key facts:
Fearful was East Germany’s secret police, the Stasi, for its wide surveillance and control.
U-2 spy plane incident: Already, a U.S. spy plane had been shot down on Soviet territory in 1960 and tensions had worsened.
3.1. Famous Spies
Several well-known spies operated in Cold War Berlin:
Rudolf Abel: Soviet spy arrested in the United Stated.
Oleg Penkovsky: Soviet military officer and West spy.
Markus Wolf: ‘The Man Without a Face’ was a nickname given to East German spymaster.
3.2. Spy Exchange Bridge of Spies
They were spy exchanges over the Glienicke Bridge, known to West Berliners as the ‘Bridge of Spies’.
Key facts:
It connected West Berlin with Soviet controlled Potsdam.
Amongst the most famous were American pilot Francis Gary Powers.
- Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, is the end symbol of the Cold War. This event ultimately played a part in German reunification (which led to the collapse of the Soviet Union).
Key facts:
Both East and West Berlin citizens rejoiced with great excitement when the wall fell.
The opening up of other political and cultural opportunities began when the wall collapsed.
5. Cold War Memorials and Museums.
Berlin is made up not only of memorials and museums, today, but of the difficult period of history it underwent.
Key recommendations:
The Berlin Wall Memorial: Enjoy a preserved part of the wall and hear how its existence affected lives.
The Stasi Museum: Find out what the Stasi (East Germany’s internal intelligence agency) got up to.
The Checkpoint Charlie Museum: Have a better insight into the effect it had on people’s lives.
So as you get sucked into the incredible history of Cold War Berlin, remember to take stock of the incredible challenges of the people that lived there. The leftovers and the stories of this time are as powerful of a reminder as one can imagine that there is a unit, freedom, and peace to fight for.
