Greetings everyone to the full overviews of East Berlin during the Cold War period below. This period from 1947 to 1991 was characterized by rising political as well as ideological struggles. In this blogpost, I will look at the main features, opportunities, and questions to be posed relating to everyday life in East Berlin during this period.
1. Division and Berlin Wall
After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones: These were American, British, French and Soviet. Even so the capital of the united nation of Germany was Berlin, which was also divided within the territory of Soviets. The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 established the single most symbolic concrete division of East and West Berlin. Its intention is in the fact that it was designed to keep people from East Berlin from escaping to West Berlin.
The Effects of the Wall
Social, economical and political consequences of the construction of the wall which divided east Berlin from the rest of the country cannot be gainsaid. Families themselves were split and one could almost not travel from one side to another. Western impact was thus minimal and the economic freedom lost.
2. Daily Life in East Berlin
To civilians in East Berlin, people’s daily activities highly resembled communism, and ideologies of the SED. Let’s explore some key aspects of daily life:
a) Shelter/Housing and Habitation
Preceding the construction of the wall most East Berliners were housed in publicly owned dwellings primarily flats. While housing was usually agreed upon for hosts, homestay was basic and the place usually provided was cramped and didn’t have many facilities. This situation of long waiting lists was quite evident in health facility.
b) Employment and Work
The SED exercised planned employment; there were few private companies and state-owned enterprises dominated the economy. Few people had any option for employment and protests resulted in extreme repercussions. There was restricted rights of workers; the wages were comparatively low to those of the western countries.
c) State Surveillance and Stasi
The Ministry for State Security- Stasi, made sure that the population was well monitored through surveillance. The informants where hired and the environment that was created was fear and suspicion. This state security service penetration was almost total in every sphere of East Germans’ lives.
3. Oppression and Freedom and Propaganda
The citizens of East Berlin had little liberties and privileges since their states controlled almost aspects of their lives. Here are some notable features:
A Brief Part:
#1 Media Control and Censorship
The SED firmly maintained censorship over the mass media so that the official stereotyped message was the only one circulating. Media censorship was one of the ways through which the regime restricted people’s freedom of expression, and information from outside the country.
The other two types closely fit into the following categories of research: b) Manipulation and Propaganda
It’s clear to see that propaganda would have a large part in swaying public opinion. In social terms, the SED portrayed itself as the guardian of socialist progress and castigated the West in order to hitch its authority which focused on communist success. There could be openness both in form of parades and other structured and organized event that showed loyalty.
4. Dramatic Escape Attempts
That is why the Berlin Wall became an emblem of the Cold War. East Germans tormented by oppression tried to flee to free West Berlin at any cost and despite the odds of being caught.
a) Tunnels
The technical infrastructure of secret tunnels was created beneath the wall to enable people to avoid border guards. These tunnels were run by anti-communist groups or by supporters in the West of Vietnam. Perhaps the most well-known of all the tunnels, ‘Tunnel 29,’ was use to smuggle 29 people to the West in 1962.
b) Hot air balloon and zip line
Some people creatively utilized hot air balloon or zip lines to achieve the ability to levitate or actual fly above the wall. These methods of course were dangerous, but they held out a chance to outdo the physical barriers.
5. Post Cold War and Reunification
Change of symbols and physical barriers is another important aspect of the nature of global politics and it was during 1989 when the Berlin Wall we tear down. In view of these, the peaceful revolution led to the cause of the reunification of Germany in the year 1990.
a) Peaceful Protests
Thus, protests including the Monday Demonstrations were more effective in part to make the needed changes. These grey-shows required political change, freedom of speech, and the dismantlement of the wall.
b) Reunification Challenges
Though Germans were happy with reunification there were some issues that came with it Though Germans were happy with reunification there were some issues that came it. The congruence of the two fundamentally dissimilar economies and culture entailed substantial work and capital.
Conclusion
Visiting East Berlin during the Cold War makes it easy to understand the various challenges of people under communism. In their lives, the division created by the Berlin Wall, which was alongside the restrictions on freedom imposed on them were in existence. The break down of the wall and the rejoicing for the unification aim at giving power to hope, freedom and the oneness.
We wish you enjoyed following through this guide. So if you would like to look further over this exiting period, we invite you look at the related books, documentaries and historical sites. There is big history behind the East Berlin during Cold War and the best thing we can learn from that history is to strive for freedom and stand for it.