As was the West Berlin symbol of the divided world with his slogan ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’. The partition of Germany in 1949 led into more tension between the US and the Soviet, the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 erected a barrier in between, dividing the city into east and west Berlin. This paper aims at analysing how one can understand history and the layout of the Berlin Wall through a map.
In this case, one would comprehend the plight and importance of the time.
1. The Berlin Wall: A Brief History
The one that was erected by the German Democratic Republic was a concrete dividing between East and West Berlin. Construction was started on the 13 of August in 1961, and it remained standing for almost 28 years before falling on the 9 of November in 1989.
Initially there was barbed wire but the wall grew into a chain of walls, towers and other barriers from Jon 2004. Its was meant to discourage East Germans from migrating into West Germany where Jobs, Civil liberties, and media freedoms were more avails.
2. Berlin Wall Map: Key Locations
Studying a map of the Berlin Wall helps us visualize the division and understand the historical significance of different locations:
2.1 Checkpoint Charlie
Check point Charlie lies within the Friedrichstraße and was the most popular spot for East and the western part of Berlin. Being the only foreign control checkpoint of the city it embodied the contradiction of two parts of the city.
2.2 Brandenburg Gate
The check point charlie in Berlin or the Brandenberg gate cut in half by the Berlin Wall was symbolic. This gate was constructed in the 18th century, but during the Cold War period the gate was closed and inaccessible.
2.3 East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery refers to painted images along this particular section of the Berlin Wall which can be best described as an open air gallery. This spectacular art on freedom was created by artists of different parts of the word after bringing down this wall.
3. Understanding the Impact
The Berlin Wall had significant political, social, and economic impacts on both sides:
3.1 Political Impact
The building of the Berlin Wall also considered as the high of the Cold War confrontation between the USA and USSR. That is why the Wall turned into the sign of confrontation of communism and democracy which demonstrated bodily the problems and discrepancies of two powers.
3.2 Social Impact
The wall separated them and their loved ones, as well as the society; it was a great source of pressure. Some tried kicking the bucket in order to flee into the West and people of East Berlin became heroes and martyrs of the wall.
3.3 Economic Impact
The wall influenced the trade and economic activites in Berlin. West Berlin received all the boost economically it required from United States while East Berlin suffered economically under the rule of Soviet associated regime.
4. Lessons Learned
Crucial historical event was the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and ending the period of the Cold War. Understanding the lessons learned from this period is essential:
Pride, courage, and physically freedom…enough to never underestimate the power of hope and their desire to be free.
Both severities come with negative human, social, and economical costs.
The idea indicated that unity and cooperation will lead to progression and enhancing relations between countries.
Conclusion
This article about the Berlin Wall shows how maps aid the visualization of certain effects of the physical barrier and maps serve as a way to place emphasis on special sites. The cold war and the subsequent break down of the wall is apt to be remembered in respect to the spirit of the human soul and liberty. The history gives a hope for the better future.