If you’re interested in the history of Berlin, you may have wondered how far West Berlin was from West Germany during the Cold War era. In this article, we will delve into this subject and provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the distance between West Berlin and West Germany.

Introduction

In the course of Cold War, the city of Berlin was split by the erecting of the Berlin Wall. West Berlin, representing a part of liberal West Germany, was an island completely enclosed with the territory of East Germany. To realise the situation that the West Berlin and West Germany were in during that historical period, it is important to understand that the two are separated by the distance.

NUTS Geographical distance between West Berlin and West Germany

West Berlin was lodged approximately 160 kilometers inside East Germany which of cause placed it quite a distance away from West Germany. It was entirely encompassed by GDR territory and had no ground link to the Federal Republic of Germany.

There used to be the so called the ‘West Berlin Corridor’ which provided connection from West Germany to West Berlin. This corridor comprised of was a network that comprised of road, rail and air transport that was controlled by the western allies inclusive of the United States of America, Great Britain and France.

The easiest way to get from West Germany to West Berlin, is by Flight or during the Soviet Blockade in the the period between 1948 and 1949, what was known as the ‘Berlin Airlift’. West Berlin was dependent on the aviation supply during this moment and the Berlin Airlift was an operation that involved thousands of flights.

Implications of the Distance

The issue of social geography of West Berlin and West Germany also had significant meaning for the people in West Berlin. They were cut off from the rest of the population in West Germany and hence were in a peculiar position geographically.

For example until 1972 West Berliner had have to get a special permission if they wanted to travel to West Germany by train or car via the corridor. This limited their ability to travel and also prevented families and friends from paying each other frequent visits.

Thirdly, the distance interfered with the ways in which supplies and goods would be taken into West Berlin. The Berlin Airlift was needed if only to provide food to the people of West Berlin during the time of the blockade; it became a symbol of the resolve of the Western Allies to stand by the people of West Berlin.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

It would be impossible to explain the cultural distance between West Berlin and West Germany after November 9, 1989 when the Wall came falling down. The division of Germany was then reunified and Berlin became a city again.

Many border checkpoints were opened, which made the division line between East and West gradually fade away. The wall that for decades had divided West Berlin from West Germany was no longer an issue, and the distance was not an issue either.

Conclusion

During the cold war the distance between West Berlin and the rest of West Germany was about one hundred miles (160 kilometers). Such kind of geographical division had sever political, social and campaign implication for the people of West Berlin. But the distance has become insignificant after the Fall of the Berlin Wall and Germany’s reunification, and the city of Berlin was reunited as well.

Civilian experiences in West Berlin and geographical isolation of the area from rest of West Germany elaborate the unique hardships of living in a divided society. Such knowledge helps to explain the nature and hardships of the people who survived through those years. Today Berlin symbolizes reunification and at the same time embraces the feature of division.