The Berlin Wall, also known as the “Iron Curtain,” was a symbol of the divided world during the Cold War. It was a physical barrier separating West Berlin, controlled by the democratic Allies, from East Berlin, which was under the influence of the communist Soviet Union. The construction of the Berlin Wall began on August 13, 1961, and it stood until its fall on November 9, 1989.

1. The Purpose and Construction of the Berlin Wall

The main intention to erect the Berlin wall was to stop people of EAST Germany from moving to the rich WEST Germany. The two authorities trumpeted reasons such as the fact that they have a responsibility to shield their socialist society from corrupting influences of the capitalist world hence the need to build a wall.

It consisted of reinforced concrete with the wall height of 12 feet and running a loop or about 96 miles long. It consisted of inner and outer fencing, watch towers, anti-vehicle ditches, and a ‘death zone’ which comprised of sharpened interlocking triangles of metal topped with trip flares, a minefield, a pavement of exploded shells, water-filled holes, patches of Sinister Fence, dog runs, and a V-shaped trench. Over the years the East German authorities indeed reinforced the wall to make it almost impossible for people to escape.

2. Hear people’s stories from the ‘West’ and the ‘East’ in this comparison of life on either side of the Berlin Wall.

2.1 East Berlin

Sanitation, especially in East Berlin, was deemed the responsibility of the government. Economy was not able to grow with the centrality of planning that led to poor production of consumer goods, as compared to the developed western countries. Most of the east Germans lacked the freedom to move around and loved ones across the border, there was limited freedom of speech and association. The state also had intelligence agencies monitoring its own people, especially the Stasi aimed at waging political repression against anyone who dared to rise against the state.

2.2 West Berlin

East Berlin suffered poor results due to authoritarianism, governance and lack of support from the United states and its allies. The economy boosted, and the general quality of living was recorded as being higher than that of East Berlin. During the Cold War period the city was associated with freedom and was used by the west, especially the United States as a model of western democracy.

3. A series of efforts to scale the Berlin Wall

Albeit it was dangerous, several East Germans tried to flee to West Berlin. Some attempted to pass through checkpoints, underground or concealed in automobiles. Some had to risk it and climb the walls or fly over the wall or use small hot air bags like hot air balloons.

However, the story of many was not one of a successful escape, the price some paid for this was very steep. The border guards reportedly were given permission to shoot those who attempted to escape and hundreds have died over the years. Nevertheless, there have been certain risks entailing certain dangers mentioned earlier, people sought liberty and a better life.

4. The Fall of the Berlin Wall

For nearly three decades, the actual physical wall served as an emblem of the two distinct systems. However, new pressure for change began to emerge in the late 1980s as the Soviet Union, and other Eastern Bloc countries started the process of liberalization.

Bonus for this topic is due to a misunderstanding that occurred during a live press conference on November 9, 1989, people of East Germany were informed that they are permitted to travel to the West. With this shocking statement; people cheered massively and flooded into western sector of Berlin marked by East Berlin citizens crossing freely into the West. In the subsequent days the mentioned citizens from both sides equally participated to have it demolished and or knocked down so that the physical wall was no more a reality.

5. The Legacy of the Berlin Wall

Thus the demolition of the Berlin Wall was not only the symbol of resistance of the German nation, it also remains one of the brightest events from the recent history of humanity. It identified Germany’s reunification and the end of the Cold war. The removal of the wall led to a crumble of communism in most of Eastern Europe and encouraged democracy.

In the modern world some remain part of the Berlin Wall acting as a pertronization of all the efforts and losses made in the course of the Cold War. The tourists can see and visit museums/ preserved sites that can explain the division, the suffering and eventual victory over oppression.

Conclusion

The Berlin Wall symbolised the nature of the Cold war because it was a division point between two contrasting systems. A physical representation of communism-du-(democracy), the war represented a part of the much bigger global conflict raging at the time. Its construction was to stop East Berliners from running towards a better standard of living in the west but it did not squelch the yearning for freedom.

The demolition of the wall introduced a new epoch in the world’s history, stimulating the democratization process as well as the german unification process. It is a constant reminder about a man’s strength in the middle of oppression and still is a symbol for freedom from walls in a world.