The Berlin Wall is one of the most known split barriers in the contemporary world. It was constructed in 1961 and remained till its demolition in 1989 and was a dividing line between East and West Germany during Cold War. But how did it come to be? In the following article let us discover the history, development stages of culmination, effects and the very demolition of the infamous Berlin Wall in connection with the Second World War.

1. The aftermath of World War II

Politically and economically Germany was in a very bad state after the Second World War. The country was divided into four zones, each controlled by the Allied powers: some countries include the United States; Soviet Union; United Kingdom; and France.

1.1 The rise of tensions

With the growing intensity of the cold war between the Super powers , there was ever increasing ideological clash between the western allies and the soviet union. The division of Germany into two was an illustration of this division.

2. The construction of the Berlin Wall 2

Construction of the Berlin Wall could be done because of the deteriorating Soviet and Western Allied partnership. Here are the key events that led to the building of the wall:

2.1 The Berlin Blockade: 

The other event was in 1948 when the Soviet Union surrounded and blocked all roadways, railways and canals to West Berlin. Berlin Airlift returned by the western Allies responding to the action with supplying the needful to the city of Berlin.

2.2 The division of Germany: 

After World War II 1949, the Sovietzone formed the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the western zone formed the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

2.3 The mass exodus: 

Every day thousands of east Germans crossed the border into west German seeking political freedom and better working conditions. This wave of emigrants was quite a shame for the GDR to manage and accept at the same time.

2.4 The decision to build the wall: 

With the permission of the Soviet Union, the East German government decided to build a partition between East and West Berlin to prevent the continuing flow of people.

2.5 The construction process

The actual building of this barrier was initiated on August 13th 1961. This meant having an external wall of concrete that was furnished with barbed wire and watchtowers stretched 156 kilometers (97 miles) around West Berlin. The wall was surrounded by armed military personnel having automatic weapons with them.

3. The impact of the Berlin Wall

The construction of the Berlin Wall had profound consequences for the people living in both East and West Germany:

3.1 Division of families: 

Families were divided, friends became enemies and people’s neighbors were their worst enemies, if they were on the other side of the Wall. It was nearly impossible to reunite for several decades thereby.

3.2 Political tension: The wall stood for division and hostility between East and the West. It just strengthened the cleavage and made it impossible for the two to come face to face.

3.3 Escalation of Cold War tensions:

 This led to the construction of the wall that extended tensions between the Soviet Union and the western Allies. Global society demanded that this division could potentially escalate into an official war.

4. The fall of the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall stood for 28 years before coming down on November 9 1989. This social event signified the beginning of the demising of the cold war period. Here’s how it happened:

4.1 Peaceful protests:

 Before the Fall, citizens of East Germany protested politically for change in the form of the freedom of movement.

4.2 Opening of borders: 

On September 11, 1989, the East Germans unexpectedly announce that their brethren had a right to travel without a second thought to the West. Compatriots thousands, ran to the wall, passing the checkpoints.

4.3 Celebration and reunification:

 The effects of the partial dismantling of the wall were also cheered in both areas. It paved way to history by making the unification of Germany into two; namely East and West Germany on October 3, 1990.

5. Remembering the Berlin Wall

In this respect the Berlin Wall still acts as a symbol of freedom and the costs of this desire. Although this building no longer exists its importance towards the course of history cannot be forgotten.

The appreciable factor is that the Berlin Wall is better comprehensible in the context of World War II if the priority is made on the meaning it had at that time. It also make us pull together and remember about the strength of many people willing to change the world for the better.

If one wants to know more about this subject, then we advise one to go to museums including the one located in Berlin Wall Memorial or to read books from historians who are interested in cold war history.