Before giving details about the Berlin Wall, there is some misunderstanding: it was not actually West Germany constructing the wall, but the East Germany or more formally the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The building of this symbol of the Cold War started on August 13, 1961 and only came down on November 9, 1989. In this article, I will explain why the GDR had decided to construct the Berlin wall and the effects for Germany as well as the rest of the word.

Background and Causes

The division of Germany after World War II led to the establishment of two separate states: – FRG : the Federal Republic of Germany the ‘West Germany’ also known as BRD ‘Bundesrepublik Deutschland’. As the states capital it was also split between west Berlin controlled by West germany and East Berlin which was controlled by the GDR. The GDR was also characterized with many problems for instance, high emigration rates especially of intelligent and highly qualified employees to West Germany.

As a result of this, the GDR felt that the only way to stop any further loses on the population was to build a physical barrier. The wall in Berlin was more than just dividing the city, dividing the east and the west, physically and ideologically.

In this context, focus will be given to the Construction and Features of the Berlin Wall.

If not for the fact that the Berlin Wall as a structure was not constructed in a single day but developed from barriers erected from barbed wired fences and concrete in 1961. The final wall was of a concrete design that incorporated steel reinforcing mesh; integrated into this wall was a ‘death strip’ of sand, gravel, etc., which was sandwiched through the wall’s half-thickness.

Watchtowers were built regularly on the walls, and each of the guards was ordered to shoot any intruder on sight. The wall also had other features of security for instance anti-bcihicle trenches and dog runs to avert intruders.

The Impact and Significance

The building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 raised many impacts for the people of Germany and the rest of the world. At first, the wall meeting its aim of preventing the east Germans from flooding to the west side. Yet at the same time it perpetuated the division between east and west in Germany, limiting the movement of people and splitting up families; friends restricting freedom of access to others and opportunities.

It also took a new symbol of the cold war, the conflict between communism and capitalism. It told a story that the Soviet Union, and the GDR could not instill in its people what they wanted most, to be free and to be better. First, it is important to mention the symbolic Cultural and Event of the year which was the fall of the Berlin in November 1989 and the reunification of Germany.

Conclusion

However it seems many people think that it was West Germany who constructed the Berlin Wall, in actuality, it was the German Democratic Republic or East Germany. Building the wall got the current aim of halting the movement of people from the East Germany to west but was very costly to human being and families. Finally, the wall fell and the Berlin Wall symbolized oppression and failed socialism, communism. Its example signaled that it became time for history in Germany and possibly throughout Europe and the world to turn for the better and for reunification.