One question that frequently arises in studying the history of Germany immediately after World War II is whether West Berlin was considered the capital of West Germany. This blog post will take you through this topic and help you to have a full grasp of the political condition back then.
The Division of Germany
After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the Allied powers: the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France, along with the United States. In addition, Berlin became the capital city of Germany, and was also divided into four sectors, each one being controlled by one of these occupying powers.
As the Cold War went on, the division between East and West Germany grew farther apart. In 1949 the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was founded in the Soviet sector, with its capital in East Berlin. West Germany was collectively known as the other three sectors, controlled by the United States, the United Kingdom and France.
The Capital of West Germany
West Berlin in fact was not West Germany’s official capital. The capital however was decided other than Bonn, a city in the Rhine Valley. One reason for choosing Bonn as the capital was its location in the western part of the country and its favorable proximity to hopefully avoid Soviet aggression.
The area of West Germany remained under western Allied control, and West Berlin, deep within the territory of East Germany, remained occupied by the same. The state had maintained a separate political life and status. West Berlin stood as a symbol for a divided country and an embolden a reminder of the tensions of the Cold War.
The Function of West Berlin
But although not the capital, West Berlin was crucial to the political and economic life of West Germany. The center was a commerce, culture, and a hub for international relations. The city was the site of political meetings, such as gatherings of the German parliament, the Bundestag. Secondly, West Berlin also emerged as a symbol of freedom and democracy for people of West Germany.
Access to West Berlin
West Berlin was a long way deep inside East Germany, so access to it was a great challenge. In 1948, the Soviet Union along with the East German government tried to force western powers out of the city with a blockade of West Berlin. But the Allies responded in the form of the massive Berlin Airlift, flying food, fuel and other needed goods into West Berlin. The airlift was nearly a year long and was a demonstration to the Western powers dedication to support West Berlin.
To stop more people emigrating from East to West Germany, the East German government built the Berlin Wall in 1961, closing off West Berlin from the rest of East German territory. For nearly 3 decades the Berlin Wall was a physical barrier until it came down in 1989.
German Reunification
After the disintegration of the Berlin Wall reunification negotiations took place to reunite East and West Germany. On October 3, 1990 the reunification was carried out and a sovereign Germany, with a single capital in Berlin, reunited.
Conclusion
of tensThough not Germany’s official capital, West Berlin had great symbolic and political importance when Germany was divided in two. As a beacon of freedom, and as a constant commemoration ions during the Cold War, it was. The historical background of West Berlin and its part in a reunification of Germany increases understanding for this time.