If you decided to learn more about history of West Berlin during Cold War, let me tell you – you are at the right place. This article will acquaint you with main events, political background, and special outlook on what happened in West Berlin between 1945 and 1990.
1. Post-War Division
Following World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the Allied powers: the United States, USSR, Great Britain and France. Deep into East Germany Soviet controlled territory, West Berlin became the city isolated and governed by American, British and French.
2. Berlin Airlift
In 1948, the Soviets closed all overland and water ways to West Berlin in an effort to put pressure on the western allies to leave. In turn, the United States and its allies started the Berlin Airlift, which delivered food, fuel, and other necessary to the peoples in West Berlin via airplanes. This humanitarian operation was going on for almost a year until the blockade was removed in mid 1949.
3. This post will discuss about the construction of the Berlin Wall To be specific, this post will discuss about Berlin Wall as follow: Construction of Berlin Wall.
The East West conflict however persisted, and actually got worse for instance the rise of the Berlin Wall in the year 1961. The wall was an actual partitioning barrier which separated East and West Berlin and also was literally and metaphorically an emblem of cold war era. Its purpose was to actually allow East Germans to not leave to West because the later was more economically developed.
For almost 27 years there was this wall; over a hundred individuals met their death at the wall. People were divided and enemies within each other and the entire political landscape of the city remained polarized and unstable.
4. Life in West Berlin
Even though West Berlin was encompassed by the Soviet bloc and endangered with regular invasions, it was one of the most prosperous and freedom cities during Cold War period. Aided by USA finance West Germany pumped large amounts of money in to the city and thus developed its residents to a high standard.
West Berlin had a lively avane culture, with outstanding theaters, museums and concert halls to its credit. The city also provide grounds for political activities and other radical movements of the people.
4.1. Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie was the best-known crossing point between East and West Berlin. It was recognized as the dividing line between the two part of the city, and saw many a face-off between American and Soviet troops during the Cold War era. Currently, the checkpoint is a unique landmark and a calling card of Berlin as a historic city.
4.2. This section looks at Allied Forces and Diplomatic Presence.
However, in view of the facts described above, West Berlin sheltered a large number of Allied military and diplomatic personnel. The USA, Britain and France kept military formations in the city in order to ensure West Berlin security. This presence bolstered the idea saying that West Berlin was the stronghold of freedom in the middle of the Eastern Block.
5. The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The Cold War and the reunification of Germany put West Berlin through a number of initiated changes. In 1989, on November 9, the government of East Germany said that people could cross the border to go west. Many people came to cross the checkpoints, and happy citizens of Berlin started to take parts of the wall down. The reunification accelerated culminating in the official breakup of East and West Germany in 1990.
6. Legacy and Remembrance
Today, people of West Berlin celebrate and commemorate Cold War with many sites and structures in the region. Most of the parts of the Berlin Wall are historical memorials that depict the strength of unity in Berlin after being cut in half for years. Fortunately, some of the relics of the Cold War –museums and memorials, and tours that depict the West Berliners’ way of life– are available.
6.1. Checkpoint Charlie Museum
The Checkpoint Charlie Museum is filled with details and actual stories of the Berlin Wall and of people trying to get from the East Berlin to the West Berlin. It is a must visit especially for anyone who would like to garner more knowledge on Cold War’s effects on human beings.
6.2. Topography of Terror
The museum is located outdoors as well as indoors and is at the location where the Gestapo and SS had their offices. , it gives an insight into the period behind the regime of the Nazis, the oppression of dissidents, and then continues the history from the division of Germany during the Cold War era.
Therefore, the exposure that West Berlin got during the Cold War period reflected and symbolized division, strength and fighting for freedom. Due to the location of the city as an island surrounded by theEast Germany it had very lively and rebellious spirit and the event that followed and the collapse of the Berlin Wall is the victory of human spirit and desire for unity. When you follow the history of the region within West Berlin, what we can see is that it is another valuable lesson from the viewpoint of history, and from this people are able to learn the meaning of freedom and unity in order to bring about better developments in the future.