The wall was constructed physically by the German Democratic Republic also known as East Germany during the era of the Cold War. Basically it split east Berlin under USSR sovereignty from West Berlin governed by the allied power of United States of American United kingdom and france. Its construction started in 1961 and stopped two years after the months of 1989, reflecting the differences between East and West.

Historical Background

After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones: American, British and French, American, British and Soviet. Like municipal administration, Berlin, which was located in its entirety in the Soviet zone, was also partitioned into four sector. Relations between the occupying powers began to deteriorate, which lead to the Soviet Union surrounded West Berlin in 1948. This led to the Berlin Airlift whereby supplies were dropped to the people of West Berlin because they were surrounded by East Germany.

The Construction of the Wall

East Germany remained besiged by a stream of refugees who crossed the border to West Germany in 1961 and due to the pressure the government decided to construct a barbed wire fence. The Berlin Wall was built on the border between East and West Berlin dividing people who could be either relatives, friends or acquaintances.

Earlier barricades were of barbed wire and any material which can be used to build a wall with in less time. It was over the years transformed into a complex with guard towers, searchlights, and a strip of land between the wall and the inner barrier once known as the Death Strip. People tried to climb on the wall and — succeed in it meant imprisonment, and in some cases — death.

The consequences of construction of the Berlin Wall

This paper will strive to demonstrate that the construction of the Berlin Wall was one of the most influential policies of the Cold War period both on the German people on the East and the West side of the Wall. People got separated from their families and persons became confined to either East Berlin or East Germany or else be enmeshed with limited capability of contacting their family members in west.

Political Implications

They built the Berlin Wall that clearly established a clear demarcation of the world into a democratic-capitalist west and a communistic east. It developed into a symbol of the entire division line of the Iron Curtain that divided Europe during the Cold War.

Escape Attempts

Regardless of the great danger that was involved, many east germans tried very difficult and almost impossible stunts such a crossing over or under the wall. Some flew by installing homemade hot air balloons or in some cases digging elaborate tunnels to the western world. Unfortunately, not all attempts at freedom saw the light of the day.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

The pace of the transformation of the Eastern European states started setting in during the 1980s. The society of several countries such as East Germany was gradually flooded with mass demonstrations and reform movements. The border between East and West was thrown open on November 9, 1989, a decision taken by the East German authorities which no one had expected. Gates that were crowded with people were opened by border guards and the entire world was watching this.

Reunification of Germany

And then came the dramatic event in European history – the fall of Berlin wall. Germany started the process of reunification, culminating following the formal reunification on October the 3rd 1990. Nowadays one can speak about one of the symbols which became really significant for people and it is a diversity – the wall separating people turned into hope, liberty, and ability to conquer the most terrific obstacle.

Conclusion

The physical barrier that was used over the years during the standoff of the cold war was the Berlin Wall separating East Germany from West Germany. It has political, social and emotional implications and impact for the construction of Germany. But the break of the wall led to the reunification and the demolition stood for the closure of an epoch of antithesis in ideological perspectives.

Crucial lessons to the theme of freedom and the consequences of political disputes can still be learned from the Berlin Wall today. Probably, knowledge of its background helps to realize how critical integration is and how significant an open and connected world is.