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Did the Cold War End When the Berlin Wall Fell?

by | Mar 7, 2024 | Cold War Tour Berlin

Introduction

Today, the break up of the Berlin wall can be described as the epoch making events of the cold war. Although this event was certainly important it was not the sole reason that put an end to this long standing ideological war between the United States and the Soviet Union. In order to grasp what the real end of the Cold war considered we need to take other important events into account alongside the other.

The Cold War: An Overview

The Cold War was a state of political antagonism between the US and the Soviet Union that began at the end of WW II in 1945 and ended in the early 1990s, but which began before then as well. Ref: Cold war The two superpower nations compete for world domination both on international stages and through proxy wars as well as develop nuclear capability.

The Berlin Wall: A Symbolic Divide

The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 when the German Democratic Republic (GDR) wanted to separate East and West Berlin. It was a realisation of the ideological war that existed between communism and capitalist countries. Only in 1989 when it fell did it mark the end of the physical divide but the actual nature of the conflict did not come to an end at the time.

Since then, the fall of the Berlin Wall has had many implications in the world today, as will be discussed below.

The role of the Berlin Wall was discussed throughout the class, and obvious changes for Germany and the rest of the global community after the Wall fell. It started a series of occurrences that culminated in the reunification of Germany in 1990. Nonetheless though the breaking down of the wall signified a major triumph, it coordinated liberated every of the problems and hostility that symbolized the cold war.

The Role of Diplomacy

The diplomatic factor came in handy to ensure that the transition arrived in the country was smooth during this period of history. There were arrangements and contacts and negotiations between leaders of the United Sates of America, Soviet Union, and other players involved in the post cold war period of development.

The factors that led to dissolution of the Soviet Union

The overt ending of the Cold War occurred at the former Soviet-ruled state, USSR, disintegration in 1991. The Soviet Union which had accumulated many economic and political crises has disintegrated into the number of nations. This could be said to have brought the cold war to a definite end because America’s main rival was no longer in existence.

Conclusion

Much as the disintegration of Berlin wall played important role of fallout of cold war, it was not the only reason that pronounced its end. To a certain extent, this results from some factors on international relations and politics and history: diplomacy and the disintegration of the Soviet Union had facilitated the termination of the Cold War.

Did the Cold War End When the Berlin Wall Fell?