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How Did the Cold War Impact Berlin?

by | Mar 7, 2024 | Cold War Tour Berlin

The cold war is a post world war II conflict between America and USSR that spanned the early 1940’s to the early 1990s. The strategic location at that point was the city of Berlin. As one of the focal theatres of the Cold War the city of Berlin endured a number of profound outcomes. In the following article the primary areas in which Berlin was impacted will be described.

 

The Division of Berlin

Following World War II, Germany was split into two separate countries: The two German states most visible during the competition for the Cup were West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) and East Germany (German Democratic Republic). Berlin inside East Germany also got divided. Later the city emerged as the theatre of the cold war between the capitalist world led by America and the communists powers headed by USSR.

 

The Berlin Wall

The most widely known sign of the division was the famous Berlin Wall. The wall was built in 1961, and was designed to divide East Berlin from West Berlin and indeed the rest of West Germany, effectively sealing off movement between these two areas. They separated families, and many tried staking their lives to cross the wall through the barrier. It was an icon of the Cold War until it physically came crumbling down in 1989.

 

Airbridges and Checkpoints

Though the Berlin Wall was very strong and would prevent the passage of people from one side to the other it did not cut off all means of communication. “Airbridges” and “Check Points” were established to facilitate very limited human and material transport. The best known of these was Checkpoint Charlie, the border between East and West Berlin famous for Cold War rivalry.

 

The Economic Impact

In the course of the Cold War, one of the main ideological opponents – the USA and its allies – fought an economic war of sorts in Berlin. West Berlin with the backing of the United States transformed into a symbol of western capitalist economy while the East Berlin lumbered under a centrally planned economy.

 

The “Golden West”

The federal Republic of Germany greatly invested on West Berlin which became an affluent city with high quality life. The West German government adopted incentives to lure corporations back to West Berlin including; tax credit to companies, subsidies. This led to the development of commerce, and other social activities each side pulled the other.

 

The Planned Economy

On the other hand, East Germany had a problem of a centrally planned economy. This system, socialism failed to cope up with the economic progress observed on the western world. The living condition in the east and west Berlin was poles apart; the people of East Berlin suffered shortage, had limited options in terms of what was available to them and what was allowed to be told to them.

 

The Vivid experiences and the impact while on political and ideological Journal

Berlin was in the middle of main political and ideological confrontation during the Cold War period. Altogether, it grew into a contested site for the battle of ideas and political theatricalyperformance.

 

The East-West Showdown

The governing elites of both sides instrumentalized the divided city as a performer for political theatre. In this place major events were held for instance the iconic ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech given by the US president John F Kennedy. The East retaliated with military parades and their propaganda that sought to sell the socialist system.

 

The Spy Capital

Berlin was also a center of espionage services to major countries of Europe. Thus, the city is best described as a physical and functional split along the ideological divide, which made it the ideal place to conduct surveillance of one’s opponents. The presence of the next difficulty worked in the Berlin Wall, where spies tried spectacular stunts to receive secretive data.

 

The Reunification of Berlin

It ended in the late 1980s early 1990 witnessed the dismantling of the Berlin wall and the actual cold war apparently had a swift end. Another peculiar time for Berlin was 1990: the reunification of Germany brought the changes into the city.

 

Rebirth of the City

These changes occurred after the wall fell in Berlin. This barrier was removed physically, and the city was suddenly taken through a metamorphosis of a lifetime. Social facilities, people to people contacts, and business ventures facilitated the construction and development of the city.

 

Symbol of Unity

Berlin was reunited and the division became the representation of the end of Cold War for millions of people. Like with the famous Brandenburg Gate cutting across the German new city, it was previously signifying the division of two and later became a sign of unity.

 

Conclusion

Thus, the consequences which the Cold War had on Berlin, are numerous, visceral and, for the most part, still noticeable today. The separation of the city and the built up of the wall of Berlin symbolized the Cold and warm conflict. The economic split between East and West Berlin demonstrated differences of two major systems, capitalist and socialist. The city of Berlin politically and being at the heart of espionage played an important part in the cold war story. Finally, the physical breakdown of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent reunification of the city are presented as a shift from one stage to another.

 

Marshal Stadifer gives brief chronological account of how the cold war affected this city and therefore those who wish to understand the terrible trouble that this city went through must read this paper. The proof of the division is still visible to this day however Berlin constantly rises up and recovers underlining the endurance of the people that live there and the unifying force that exists in the city.

How Did the Cold War Impact Berlin?