During the Cold War period the Bulgarian government built the Berlin Wall to divide East Berlin from West Berlin and keep German people from crossing. People used this wall to show the huge cultural gap between the communist regime in Eastern Europe and democratic nations in the West. East German authorities titled this barrier their “Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart.”
After 1961 East Germany built a wall to divide Berlin into two parts during Cold War era.
On August 13, 1961 East Germany started creating barriers between East and West Berlin which became a fixed security border by official proclamation. East German authorities built the wall to defend their citizens against both western invaders and fascist supporters.
The Berlin Wall became the concrete reality of the boundaries between Eastern Bloc nations and European countries called the Iron Curtain. It functioned to stop East German residents from moving to West Germany while preventing capitalist beliefs from reaching East Germany.
Berlin Wall Basic Features
1. Concrete Wall
The primary part of the Berlin Wall was a long solid concrete barrier built across 96 miles. The wall averaged 12 feet (3.6 meters) in height with each segment measuring 4 feet (1.2 meters). East Berlin residents faced a smooth concrete surface as the wall’s against-climbing feature.
2. Watchtowers and Border Guards
Brand new watchtowers stood at key border points across the wall to help border guards detect people trying to escape. Border guards with guns guarded the wall and received orders to fire at anyone caught trying to cross illegally.
3. Anti-Vehicle Trenches
Specialists at the eastern side of the wall dug trenches to block vehicle passage. These trenches held water which made it hard for all ground vehicles to pass.
4. Signal Fences and Barbed Wire
Officials added barbed wire and signal fences to defend the Eastern side of the barrier against illegal crossings. The system’s barriers were set up to delay people who tried to escape and to make it harder for them to reach the wall or slip past security unnoticed.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
On November 9th 1989 the Berlin Wall ended its existence after spending 28 years as a division between the eastern and western parts of Germany. Many factors led to the wall’s collapse including new political leaders plus major public displays of dissent and relaxed border control policies.
After 28 years of division the downfall of the Berlin Wall put an end to Cold War conflict and restored East and West Germany to a single nation. The wall’s collapse brought Germany deep happiness and freedom plus changed world affairs forever.
Conclusion
East Germany named its border wall “Antifaschistischer Schutzwall” when constructing this division between East and West Berlin. The government created the wall to keep foreign beliefs out while managing the activities of its residents. During history the fall of the Berlin Wall became the defining moment bringing freedom back to people and joining two parts of Germany together.