The Berlin Wall was built to stop the movement of people between East and West Germany at a time when Communist East opposed Capitalist West. Construction of the Berlin Wall began on August 13, 1961 and finished its work on August 15, 1961.
East Germany built the Berlin Wall in August of 1961.
The German Democratic Republic’s army built the Berlin Wall in order to stop its citizens from escaping into West Germany. A complete wall-system included concrete walls alongside guard towers and fences with barbed wire.
On August 12 1961 the GDR built a temporary barbed wire border fence to separate East Berlin from West Berlin. After the makeshift barrier failed to block defections the GDR built a durable concrete wall and installed watchtowers for protection.
The Berlin Wall existed to keep East German citizens from moving to West Germany.
The Berlin Wall existed to prevent East German citizens from moving to West Germany because their massive migration had warning effects on both economic and political stability of the GDR. The communist government built the Wall to suppress its people by stopping them from moving freely across the city.
The Soviet Union helped East Germany block Western influence because they wanted to secure their control of Eastern Bloc countries without Western interference.
Features of the Berlin Wall
For complete border control West Berlin was surrounded by the Berlin Wall over 155 kilometers or 96 miles. The barrier system included two separated walls at set distances with lethal ground between. Border guards patrolled a death strip filled with grinding materials that created a deadly zone for would-be escapees.
Soldiers kept watch from towers across the city to stop refugees from escaping. Border guards had permission to fire on anyone attempting to cross the wall while people seeking freedom took serious risks in trying to overcome this deadly barrier.
Checkpoint Charlie
The checkpoint at Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße intersection in central Berlin earned its fame as “Checkpoint Charlie.” Military personnel and diplomatic staff needed this crossing to move back and forth across the Berlin border.
People from throughout the world visit Checkpoint Charlie today to experience its historical past.
Life with the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall shaped all aspects of everyday life for those who lived in its two Berlin divisions. The strict blocking of the city created families-separations while splitting relationships and damaging both the local culture and economic growth.
People from East Berlin used secret ways to flee their country by building tunnels below ground and creating hidden spaces inside vehicles to launch hot air balloons.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
For 28 years the Berlin Wall represented the profound separation that existed between Eastern and Western societies. The Soviet Union’s power decline in Eastern Europe plus changes in politics forced the GDR government to take down the barriers.
East German officials opened crossing points between East and West Germany on November 9, 1989 after protests continued for days. Beside and West Berlin residents gathered at the wall to pull it down as they celebrated freedom. This key moment in world history paved the way for German reunification.
Conclusion
The Berlin Wall demonstrated through its physical presence the complete political split of the Cold War period. Construction of the wall started fresh in 1961 and ended that same year. For the next 28 years the wall physically divided East Berlin from West Berlin. Despite creating hardships for those under its rule the destruction of the Berlin Wall showed people living there finally achieved freedom together.