After World War II we must study Berlin’s post-war history and political situation to discover which state controlled East and West Berlin. Following the German surrender in 1945, the victorious Allies divided Germany into four occupied zones: Four nations ruled East and West Berlin: the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Soviet Union. The eastern borders of Germany included Berlin as their urban center.
The Division of Berlin
Germany’s post-WWII division produced East and West Berlin through two parts of separate control territories. Except for East Berlin which they governed, the Soviet Union held power over their specific sector and the other Allies took charge of their designated zones. When Cold War tensions increased Berlin proved to become the leading symbol of division between East and West.
East Berlin
East Berlin became the capital city of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) after the Soviet Union created their socialist state in 1949. After World War II the Soviet Union took total leadership over East Berlin’s political, economic, and administrative operations. East German leaders followed Soviet methods in ruling their country and merged workforce operations into public ownership.
West Berlin
West Berlin sat within East Germany’s borders because the Federal Republic of Germany ran things there. The three Western Allies like the United States, United Kingdom, and France took charge of running West Berlin even though it sat within East Germany’s borders. After socialist East Berlin introduced its philosophy West Berlin grew in confidence as a democratic and prosperous center.
The Berlin Wall
People saw physical separation between East and West Berlin as the Berlin Wall began construction. The East German administration started building the Wall on August 13, 1961 to stop its citizens from moving from East Berlin to more successful West Berlin. East Berlin lost its connection to the rest of the world when the wall was built. This political wall showed people how Cold War feelings divided nations.
The Democratic Republic of Germany ran its border security system in East Berlin.
East Berlin government operations managed the wall and deployed strong protection against crossing irregularly. Border guards from the East German army worked these areas and their orders included using deadly force to stop anyone escaping from crossing. East Berlin demonstrated its official Soviet control through strict defense measures of this barrier.
West Berlin’s Perspective
People from West Berlin used the wall as a constant reminder of their continuing fight to escape Soviet domination. West Berlin gained its safety through Allied support while the Allies protected its democratic lifestyle.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
For almost thirty years the Berlin Wall represented the geographic barrier between Communist and Capitalist regions. Facing rising popular demands for political reform the East German government made a public decision on November 9, 1989. Officials announced all checkpoints between East and West Germany would be removed to tear down the Berlin Wall forever.
East and West Berliners celebrate joyfully when they worked together to tear down the Berlin Wall after this main event. After the Berlin Wall fell the Cold War ended so Germany could make its historic re-unification.
In Conclusion
The Soviet Union ruled East Berlin until it moved to become East Germany’s capital. West Berlin stayed under Western Allies control as its people enjoyed democratic freedom and economic growth. Physical measures including the Berlin Wall kept the eastern and western parts of Berlin apart until it stood for 28 years. The collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 started a historic era that ended both global tension and brought Germany back together.