The Berlin Wall was built in what was a Cold War division between East and West. That is why in this blog post, we are going to check out the reasons for building it and the great effect it had on the world.
The Cold War and its Origins
Cold War was a war of tension for political between United States and its allies (Western Bloc) and the Soviet Union and its allies (Eastern Bloc) between 1940 and 1990s. The rivalry was ideological, the struggle for power, and nuclear arms race.
The Division of Germany
After World War II, Germany was occupied by the United States, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union, into four occupied zones. The other three zones were to form the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) or West Germany and the Soviet controlled area became the German Democratic Republic (GDR) or East Germany.
The Rising Tensions
The Cold War sharpened the East against West Germany. With the best opportunities and freedom, many East Germans were fleeing to the West. By 1961, however, there was a frightful shortage of skilled workers in East Germany, which worried the Soviets.
The Wall: A Decision
To forestall the mass exodus the East German government, with Soviet acquiescence, constructed a physical barrier. It wasn’t until August 13, 1961, that construction of the Berlin Wall began and effectively cut East Berlin off from West Germany.
Reasons for Building the Berlinwall
1. To Prevent Brain Drain
One reason East Germany was so keen to keep skilled workers from emigrating was to stop the exodus to the West. They were trying to stop brain drain and save their labor force by building a physical barrier.
2. Ideological Divide
The Berlin Wall was built further dividing the Eastern Bloc from the Western Bloc, ideologically. It meant the Iron Curtain, the wall separating the socialist and capitalist systems.
3. Political Control
Maintaining political control over the East Germany’s population was a Berlin Wall. It cut them off from Western media, ideas and cultural influence.
Impact of the Berlin Wall
1. Human Tragedy
Berlin Wall was a very painful and a human suffering. The separations put families and friends apart, and repeated attempts to escape resulted in tragedy, often death.
2. Symbol of the Cold War
And the Berlin Wall became a powerful symbol for the grating Cold War division. Its construction added to the United States and Soviet Union’s antagonism.
3. Fall of the Berlin Wall
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall finally falls, the product of peaceful demonstrations and political change of East Germany. It was the beginning of the end of the whole Cold War era.
Conclusion
The Cold War division, in a word, led to the construction of Berlin Wall, and that was owing to the fact that the Soviet Union wanted to keep grip of its Eastern Bloc allies. It represented the ideological and political conflict of the time, the physical and symbolic representation. The end of its fall was the symbol of the victory of democracy and freedom over totalitarianism. Today, the Berlin Wall reminds us all of the costly—yet powerful—results of political divisions that can both divide things and people, and impel them peacefully to come together for the common good.