The Berlin Wall built in 1961 displays the strongest visible sign of the Cold War existence. The Berlin Wall literally divided Germany into East and West to represent the strong conflicts between East and West during that historic time.
The Origins of the Cold War
Before discussing the Berlin Wall’s importance we must first identify how the Cold War emerged. After World War II the Allied powers who won divided Germany into four separate occupied zones they ran with the US, Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. Even though communism faced capitalism in the world the United States and the Soviet Union grew stronger which made their relationship worse.
After World War II the Soviets set up the Democratic Republic of Germany as a socialist nation controlled by them in 1949. After World War II the Federal Republic of Germany became a capitalist democracy with US backing. By splitting Germany the two powers made East and West more distant from each other which led to creating the Berlin Wall.
Building the Berlin Wall Began
While the eastern nations started setting up their wall on August 13, 1961 at 4:00 AM the authorities used concrete structures and barbed wire to seal off the border. The leaders built the wall because they wanted to stop East Germans from moving to better economic conditions in West Germany. The barrier divided West Berlin from East Germany and showed everyone the deep opposition between communism and capitalism.
The wall got larger and more secure through time as guards towers and electrical power barriers were integrated into its security system. People who broke out of the area faced prison sentences and sometimes lost their lives. For 28 years the wall served its purpose until East and West united in 1989 through its destruction.
The Symbolic Significance
During the Cold War the Berlin Wall embodied the physical form of the Iron Curtain which describes Europe’s political and ideological separation between communism and capitalism. Through its existence the wall displayed the global tension between communism and capitalism and how firmly authoritarian governments control their citizens.
Furthermore, the wall highlighted the stark contrast between the two Germanys: Everything west of the wall showed economic growth and civil rights but things stayed slow and controlled in areas east of it. People of Germany wanted to unite while fighting for their personal freedoms against oppressive government control.
Impact and Legacy
Our world history record shows that the Berlin Wall permanently shows us our human desire to live without limits. After peaceful protests during 1989 destroyed the barrier it brought together modern German history which led to the reunification of West and East Germany.
History ended its political divisions when Berlin Wall fell down leading to the Soviet Union’s end and helping democracy grow all over the world. Society keeps sections of the Berlin Wall to teach people about the harmful effects of ideological separation.
Conclusion
As a historic landmark the Berlin Wall stands strong to remind us of Cold War effects on worldwide change. This symbol shows how communism and capitalism fought each other for what people wanted most – their freedom. When the wall came down people learned that standing together moves us toward peace.
The Berlin Wall needs to serve as evidence of how hope and courage helped people defeat large limits in their path.