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What Happened to Germany and Berlin During the Cold War

by | Mar 7, 2024 | World War Tour Berlin

During 1947 and 1991 the United States and Soviet Union engaged in military struggles and held opposing views. During the Cold War times Germany stood out as a key spot where large changes to the country took place. This article studies how Germany and its capital Berlin changed during the Cold War.

The Division of Germany

After World War II, Germany was divided into two separate states: West Germany existed as the Federal Republic of Germany and East Germany adopted the name German Democratic Republic. The United States and Soviet Union split Germany because of disagreements about their political system.

Construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 permanently split the country between Eastern and Western parts. The wall divided physical East Berlin which GDR ruled from West Berlin which belonged to West Germany. East Germany’s isolation formed a special zone that produced differences in urban life between its two parts.

Life in West Germany

The United States-influenced West Germany produced strong economic growth throughout its Cold War era. After World War II the United States launched the Marshall Plan to revive Germany’s war-damaged areas which made possible the nation’s economic recovery. Germany’s move to the Federal Republic status made the nation one of Europe’s top industrial powers with its label as economic miracle.

West Germany decided to use American-style democracy for its political system. After NATO’s foundation North Germany worked with Western nations to block Soviet influence across Europe.

Life in East Germany

Under Soviet control East Germany built a socialist-communist system that centralized power over all aspects of life. Under communist ideas the GDR wanted to build an equal society for everyone. Despite these aims the government exerted strict influence on everything. Every citizen of East Germany dealt with official content suppression plus reduced personal movement and freedom.

East Germany could not come close to reaching economic levels of Western Germany. The planned economy produced weak economic growth that reduced the basic living conditions its people had to endure. The government put most of its effort into increasing heavy industry while ignoring product manufacturing for everyday use.

Berlin: The Divided City

As Germany’s capital Berlin symbolized the Cold War tensions because the city stood divided between eastern and western sectors. The Berlin Wall served as both a border and an emblem of the world’s main power struggle between East and West.

West Berlin managed to survive as a society built around freedom behind the military protection provided by the Allies inside East Germany. Artistic and intellectual activities flourished in the city that drew international public participation.

Life in East Berlin brought both social and economic problems to its residents. Due to poor conditions East Berliners regularly moved from their homes to find better opportunities in Western countries. The authorities made the wall stronger to stop people from running away and endangered people who tried to escape.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Through the Berlin Wall’s fall in November 1989 the Cold War’s conflict ended. Authorities of East Germany made a surprise announcement on November 9, 1989 that let people travel to the Western side. Many people from every side rushed to the wall when it was unexpectedly torn down at that momentous historic time.

The whole of Germany came back together as one nation. On October 3 of 1990 both Germanys merged legally to make one united Germany. Both regions felt positive and tough effects during reunification because East and West Germany needed to resolve major economic political and social problems.

Conclusion

The Cold War period changed Germany both in its political and social aspects. The partition of Germany produced opposite life experiences for East and West German residents. Berlin’s physical division exhibited the huge problems of that period. Germany started its next unified nation journey when the Berlin Wall fell and the Cold War finally ended.

What Happened to Germany and Berlin During the Cold War