The Berlin Wall stood between East and West Berlin during Cold War periods. It profoundly affected the Cold War fight between America and the Soviet Union. Our understanding of Cold War dynamics improves through analyzing how the Berlin Wall affected history during that time period.
- East Germany built the Berlin Wall to control population movement from one half of the city to another.
The German Democratic Republic put up the Berlin Wall in 1961 to block movement from East to West Germany. The wall was built to keep large numbers of people from leaving East Germany to live in capitalist West Germany. East Germany’s weak economy faced a major threat when a large number of skilled professionals sought to leave the country.
- Berlin’s partition into East and West sections because of this wall
After building the wall Berlin split into two separate parts both physically and mentally. People who lived in East Berlin lost their right to travel while their families stayed apart because of the wall. From behind communist East Germany’s borders West Berlin grew as a symbol of freedom against its capitalist system.
2.1 East Berlin
East Berliners lived under forced control because the wall represented their restrictions. People in East Berlin suffered both surveillance by authorities plus had reduced freedom of movement while facing weak job market conditions. The wall pointed out the main differences between communist and capitalist regimes.
2.2 West Berlin
West Berlin became the central location for people who opposed communist rule because of the wall. The city attracted many thinkers and freedom fighters who ran away from the East Germany authorities. The many cultural activities in West Berlin showed visitors the worldviews of communism and free society at play.
- International Tensions
The Berlin Wall made Cold War tensions between America and Russia grow even stronger. The structure showed how society split between capitalist and communist systems across the globe.
3.1 United States Reaction
The United States saw the Berlin Wall breaking free human rights standards and endangering Western impact in Europe. US support for West Berlin took the form of monetary assistance to help protect its people. In his successful “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech President Kennedy showed US support to those living in the shadow of the Berlin Wall.
3.2 Soviet Union Response
The Soviet Union thought erecting a wall between East Germany ensured this region stayed free from capitalism’s impact. The wall made permanent the separation between communism and capitalism which brought Cold War tensions to the very center of Berlin.
- Striking Changes Moved Berlin’s Wall to Its End
For nearly 30 years the Berlin Wall served as a brick and brick barrier until political changes overthrew it.
4.1 Economic Struggles
Basic necessities in East Germany ran low while its outdated systems and reduced efficiency made economic success impossible. People started demanding political fixes because the East German communist leadership showed its problems openly.
4.2 Peaceful Protests
Through peaceful demonstrations the people of East Germany started to push for political transformation during the late 1980s. More people called for change because the government responded with greater suppression. The East German regime decided to let people cross through Berlin Wall checkpoints on November 9, 1989.
- The End of the Cold War
The breaking down of the Berlin Wall changed the direction of Cold War politics. People around Eastern Europe saw the event as proving democracy and capitalism stronger than communist rule. This moment created the conditions necessary to bring back Germany’s two parts and start the Soviet Union’s end.
Conclusion
During the Cold War period the Berlin Wall brought significant worldwide changes to both politics and global affairs. The wall built between East and West countries raised tensions between Russia and the United States and made the two sides more distant from each other. The Berlin Wall’s ultimate destruction kicked off a victory for freedom and democracy that also halted the Cold War.