The Cold War was a period of heightened tension and political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. One of the most significant geopolitical outcomes of this era was the division of Berlin, the capital city of Germany. Berlin, located in the eastern part of Germany, became the epicenter of this conflict. Let’s explore where Berlin stood during the Cold War era.
The Division of Berlin
After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the Allied powers: the USA, Great Britain, France and the Soviet union. However, like many East German cities, even in the post-war period, it was divided into four sectors controlled by the four leading allied powers in Europe – Great Britain, America, France and USSR.
Living in East Berlin under Etter Soviet Control
The Soviet Union had a say in everything that happened to the eastern part of Berlin. It became the capital of the German Democratic Republic, East Germany derived from the Soviet occupied eastern zone. East Berlin was the follower of the USSR policy and East German people experienced a life under communism.
West Berlin which is inside the Allied sectors
The western part of Berlin was divided among the three Western powers: the United States of America, Great Britain and France. While West Berlin is located well inside East Germany, it was recognized as a separate political and geographical entity and remained occupied by the Allies.
The Berlin Wall
The division of Berlin became represented by the construction bar of one of the most famous physical barriers in history- the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall, which divided Berlin from East and West was built by the GDR in 1961 only to block the free movement of people between the two parts of the city. The wall could also be said to symbolise an ideology which in reality was a physical barrier between east and west.
Checkpoint Charlie
Personally, Checkpoint Charlie was the most popular and the most fortified crossing point between East and West Berlin. It was at Friedrichstraße and used by diplomats, soldiers, and other Allied civilians to move from one part of the city to the other. The name is derived from the NATO phonetic alphabet because the name ‘Checkpoint’ begins with the letter ‘C’ which this company stands for by using the NATO alphabet word ‘Charlie’.
Airbridge: Lifeline to West Berlin
Because West Berlin itself was encircled by East Germany between 1945 and 1990, West Berlin’s population faced extreme poverty, and as a result, an unprecedented method was developed to deliver food and other necessities to the city. The Berlin Crisis of 1948-1949 was a post World War II crisis in which the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies’ road transport to their zone of West Berlin and the Western Allies flew in supplies to West Berlin.
Tempelhof Airport
Tempelhof Airport being in West Berlin was the center of operation during the Berlin Airlift. It came in handy as the principal disembarking point for the Allies’ crisis supplies into the city. The constant flow of aircraft during the airlift kept West Berlin going even with the limited capability of the technology.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
In 1989 after twenty eight years of division the infamous Berlin Wall collapsed. This proved to be a historic event and was caused by the pressure that the east German people were putting on the government demanding political liberalisation and ease in travelling restrictions.
Brandenburg Gate: Symbol of Unity
Brandenburg gate is another important structure in Berlin that was used to represent unity of the German nation. After the demolition of the Berlin Wall, the gate was restored and acts as a plaza symbolizing the unification of the east and west of Germany.
Conclusion
The Berlin Wall is a clear example of the Cold War when the world was divided into East and the West. It is for this reason that two of the greatest symbols have been set up, the Wall, which was built and then dismantled, for the people of Berlin and the victory that comes with unity over division.