Let me introduce the main idea of our blog post: “When Did the Wall in Berlin Go Up”. Here in this article it will attempt to give the reader a brief history of the reason why the Berlin Wall was built, when it was built and the effects it had on Germany and the rest of the world.
1. Context: Germany after World War II
In order to get familiar with the factors which culminated in the construction of the Berlin Wall, one has to look at events that happened after the Second World War. The country was occupying by the four powers after the defeat of Nazi Germany: the United States, the USSR, Great Britain and France.
Like in the Soviet-occupied zone the city of Berlin with which the film is mainly concerned – was divided into four sectors as well. Relations with the other occupying powers, particularly the Cold War of east and west within a year started appearing.
2. The Construction begins
The Berlin Wall was erected in the night between 12 and 13 August 1961. This decision, which was quite unexpected, was taken by the German Democratic Republic GDR which was the Soviet puppet government in East Berlin.
Using the stated goal of using the wall to stop the migration of East Germans to the West, which to date had been over 3 million. To isolate the families, their dear ones, the concrete barrier was constructed dividing two parts of the city.
2.1 Wall Construction Timeline
Year Key Event
1961 Construction starts from August 13.
1962 Improvements which those at the wall have included barbed
wire barriers and watch towers
1963 An extra internal wall which is a ‘death strip’ is also built
1989 The wall opened on 9th November.
For twenty-eight years dividing the city, the Wall represented the chasm between East and West. It strengthened the so called line of iron curtain, which separates the communism countries and the countries of the west Europe.
3. The Impact of the Berlin Wall
The erection of the Berlin wall brought far reaching consequences in Germany and the entire world. Here are some key impacts:
3.1 Political Repression
The wall underpinned the dictatorship of the GDR. In addition to the fence, there were numerous guards, towers, and barbed wire barriers to buy off a chance for inmates to try an escape.
3.2 Human Tragedy
Realizing the construction of the wall created unfathomable individual suffering of all family members and the separation of lovers and beloved ones, this theory seems appropriate. A large number of east germans being killed trying to cross the well-forged border.
3.3 Symbol of the Cold War
For six years the Wall in Berlin became the manifestation of the cold war conflict between communism and capitalist world. For them, its existence was the fight of freedom and people’s ability to become free from oppression.
4. The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The wall that divided East and West Berlin came down after twenty seven years in November 9, 1989 as a result of political pressure, people’s power, and the shift of the Soviet Union policies.
This collapse symbolised the gradual demize of the cold war and change of political and social face of Germany and Europe in general.
5. Conclusion
The constructions of the Berlin Wall together with its collapse was part of the historical occurrences in the 20th Century. One the one hand the wall means separation, oppression, while on the other hand it embodied victory of spirit, the power of people’s desire.
Currently you can only witness a piece of the Berlin Wall and the struggles of the two German nations and the importance of togetherness in the contemporary global village.
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