Hi there and welcome to our blog post dedicated to one of the most intriguing themes from the Cold War – the part played by the Berlin Wall. Here and there, we will guide your through the course of history in order to reveal you the importance of Berlin Wall and the incidents that led to its demolition. By the end of the lesson, you will be able to appreciate fully what the current structure symbolizes in how it contributed to the resolution of one of the longest standing conflicts in contemporary times.

1. The Cold War: A Brief Overview

The Cold War refers to a period of tension and conflict between two worlds, the western led by America and the eastern dominated by soviet Union starting from the end of II World War until early 90s. It was characterized by high degree of competition embracing arming race coupled with existing perpetual threat of nuclear war.

2. The Berlin Wall Construction

The barrier which spited the East and the West Berlin was built in 1961 by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). This led to its construction following a tidal wave of immigration from East Germany to West Germany which was a challenge to the East Germany regime.

The Wall extended for 155 kilometers, for instance, the concrete wall, the barbwire, watchtowers as well as a series of mines that actually discouraged any attempt of East Germans to cross to the West. People’s close ones were separated, and many people become suffered by the policy of East Germany regime.

3. Cold War as Seen Through the Lens: The Berlin Wall

The Fall of the Berlin Wall also meant fall of literally, the WALL which defined concrete barriers between East and West, communism and democracy. It provided clear distinction of the two armies and demonstrated the kind of life the people under the Soviet influence were living.

The Wall also represented the major conflict of the Cold War because two different societies, superpowers at that time. It was a daily reminder of war and nuclear threat between the United States and Soviet Union which had formed the two super powers of the Cold World War. East and West Berlin became front lines in this battle between two superpowers.

4. The function of the Berlin Wall in Diplomacy

The establishment of Berlin Wall gave a background to many important events ending with an exchange of diplomats to East Germany. The most famous of such event was John F. Kennedy’s Berlin Wall speech in June of 1963, where in his famous phrase translated with “Ich bin ein Berliner”, he declared himself not only with the people in Berlin but with the world. Kennedy knew what he was doing when he stated that we are behind you and vouch for freedom and democracy of the people of Berlin.

Also, the Berlin Wall was put at the center of strategic interest between the United States of America and the soviet Union. It was a focus of conversation during different meetings and talks to deescalate tensions between the two global giants. It is obvious that the Wall was instrumental in making everybody remember that the only solution is through negotiations.

5. Winds of Change: The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Following years the Berlin wall manifested itself not only as division but as oppression as well. This created a burning desire in people of East Germany and the ability for change gradually manifested itself. This situation triggered several protests that reached a point of what could actually bring down the Wall.

Such a turning point could be a speech of Günter Schabowski, the member of the Politburo in the GDR on November 9, 1989. Stuck behind the Iron Curtain, the massacre unfolded in the offices of the East German government and came to the world via the live-streamed speech by Schabowski when he by accident announced that the GDR’s citizens could go to West Germany right now. This led to massive rejoicing and daze; as everybody moves towards the wall and crosses it. The border guards lost the capacity to process people at the crossing and therefore opened them thus bringing the Berlin Wall down.

6. The Aftermath and the End of the Cold War

The pulling down of the Berlin Wall was a historic sign to mean that the Cold War was coming an end. It resulted in democratization movements in the entire eastern Europe and culminated to the reunification of Germany.

The East Germany people tore down the Berlin Wall and others were inspired to call for political changes across all the Soviet fields. The Soviet government failed to seize power and in the following years the Soviet Union was disbanded in 1991.

Conclusion

This paper will try to argue that the Berlin Wall was not only a physical divider but also a metaphorical representation of the Cold War. They said that it’s collapse marked the end of an era, freedom of oppression, that inspired change across Eastern Europe. These facts about the Berlin Wall would be helpful to know who wanted the Wall, why it was built, who knocked it down and why understanding the Cold War and the persistence of people to be free.