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What War was the Berlin Wall Built In?

by | Mar 7, 2024 | Cold War Tour Berlin

 

One of the most significant landmarks in history, the Berlin Wall, was constructed during a time of intense geopolitical conflict. Let’s explore the historical context and the war that led to its construction.

The Cold War and the Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall was constructed during the cold war when there were political rivalry and hostility between the two super powers; the United States and the Soviet Union. Even though it is as of now known simply because a Berlin wall, it was an genuine concrete structure which in fact divided East Germany from West Germany.

In the case of the war that led to the building of the Berlin Wall, it is therefore necessary to turn to the especially detailed events of the Cold War.

The Cold War: A Brief Overview

Cold war was political and military standoff between two world super powers which started after World War II and ended in early 90s. It was due to increasing articles of conflict between the democratic and capitalist regimes like that of United States and the communism influenced states of the soviet union.

While the United States and the Soviet Union never came to blows and actually never directly fought a war, both used other tactics by which to bring weaker countries into their sphere of influence, or make them subservient to their needs. Such strategies were, military alliances, economics support, intelligence and political and psychological warfare.

The Role of Germany after the second World War and Division

After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the Allied powers: the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France. Like any other capital city, Berlin in the Soviet zone also divided in the similar manner.

Situations intensified as polarisation of ideas emerged with the Western Allies promoting the free world and the free market while the Soviets aimed at spreading communism across the new world. This division was eventually to result in the construction of the Berlin Wall.

The Berlin Wall: Construction and Purpose

The Berlin Wall was built on August 13, 1961, and that wall was pulled down on November 9, 1989. Polish minaret contained concrete segments, watch towers, barbed wire and other construction barriers during the war.

Its main objective was to stop East Berlins from migrating to West Berlin and to bar western currents from penetrating into East Germany. This wall also compounded the suffering and alienation of families, friends, and communities from one another and in the process denigrated them.

The War Behind the Wall: The Cold War

Reasons For the Cold War

Even though the Berlin Wall construction could not be traced to a particular war, the wall was built as a result of Cold War.

The Cold War was primarily fueled by the following factors:

Ideological differences: This led to the definition of two real tangible ideologies-Capitalism and communism.

  • The arms race: In addition, both sides committed to constant development and accumulation of nuclear weapons as well.
  • Proxy wars: These two global superpowers took contrary positions in objectives in assorted conflicts international.
  • The Iron Curtain: It should accessibility that the term “Iron Curtain” was applied to different with the actual physical and more importantly the ideological divide between the Western Europe and the communized Eastern Bloc.

The impact and the breakdown of the Wall of Berlin

The event marking the dismantling of the relation between East and West Germany the famous Berlin Wall is best recognized as a significant event in the onset of the Cold War period of the world history. It ended communism rule in Eastern Europe as well as initiated the prospect of Germany’s reunification.

A year of peaceful civil and political demonstrations in Eastern Europe 1989 marked revolutions and a decline in Soviet influence. Therefore the Berlin Wall split was torn down on the 9th of November in 1989 and the people were able to travel and meet their families.

Conclusion

The Berlin was constructed not in the warm backdrop but during the cold war. But being physically manifested structure it symbolized profound political and ideological cleavage between the East and the West. For one to effectively appreciate the he properties of the Berlin Wall and the effects that it had in the lives of different individuals, then one must constantly bear in mind the historical context behind the construction of the Berlin Wall.

What War was the Berlin Wall Built In?