Geopolitical Tension and ideological rivalry between United States and the Soviet Union was known as the Cold War. Physical symbols of this conflict were the division of Germany, and the construction of the Berlin Wall. Nevertheless, in November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall crumbled. Eventually this would mark the end of the Cold War. In this article, we will talk about what happened and why and why it mattered.
The Origins of the Berlin Wall
Germany was divided into four occupation zones, ruled by the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain and France, at the end of World War II. Even though Berlin was found in the Soviet zone it also divided into four sectors. Soon after, tensions escalated between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies, leading to the formation of two German states: Germany was though divided into the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
With the support of the Soviet Union, to prevent its citizens from heading out to the West the East German government began building a wall to split East and West Berlin. On August 13, 1961, the wall was completed and would become the high profile symbol of the Cold War.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall had many causes, and some have to do with changes that took place at the international and to a lesser extent at the East German level, as well. It owed much to the connected impact of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness).
A wave of political changes followed as Gorbachev’s reforms spread through Eastern Europe, and thus set off mass protests inside East Germany. On November 9, 1989, East German government announced that the Western border for crossing travel restrictions will be open.
The Impact on Relationship During the Cold War
The Berlin Wall came down with a big effect on Cold War relations. The iron curtain that had divided Europe for so long, was falling down. For the freedom and democracy, the event was hailed in its global aspect as a victory of communism. It also marked a fundamental is turn power to the States and the Soviet Union.
Opportunity to peacefully aid the Soviet Union fell onto the United States with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The result was a sequence of diplomatic negotiations and the like of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in 1991 and the reunification of Germany.
The Reunification of Germany
The process Germany from its reunification after the fall of Berlin Wall. On October 3, 1990 the two German states, East Germany and West Germany, merged into one country.
Reunification of Germany was not without it challenges. East German economy was far from strong in comparison with West German economy and integration of two regions raises questions of economics and social character. Yet, the reunification process won out, and, in the end, Germany became an unified and strong Europe.
The End of the Cold War
The end of the Cold War came as the Berlin Wall fell. But this era of geopolitical tension ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, followed by a host of events.
Change was possible, it showed in the fall of the Berlin Wall; it spread across Eastern Europe. In addition to political change in democratic countries, such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania, communist regimes in those countries also ended and democratic systems began. Those events of 1989 and 1990 turned over the geopolitical chessboard of Europe and broke the frozen Cold War power balance as known.
The Legacy of the Berlin Wall
The physical phenomenon of the Berlin Wall left a legacy that much goes beyond itself. It is today surveying fragments of the wall in museums and memorials around the world that keep the division and reunification of Germany alive.
The fall of the Berlin Wall is a triumph for freedom and human and rights. This is a sign of how great the human ideal is, to the potential of people to do the impossible; to overcome.
In Conclusion
Fall of the Berlin Wall was a watershed moment in history not only finally ending the Cold War, but indeed dooming the Soviet Union. It signified an end of communism in Eastern Europe, freedom of democracy. This monumental change can be seen in the reunification of Germany.
With the Berlin Wall, the legacy of human resilience and human determination. The human spirit is strong and, indeed, the world wide yearning for freedom and unity.