The Berlin Wall was one of the most significant historical events that shaped the 20th century. Spanning 30 years, its construction, existence, and eventual fall impacted the lives of millions. In this article, we will explore when they started building the Berlin Wall and delve into its historical context and impact.

Historical Context: The Cold War

The construction of the Berlin Wall was directly linked to political situation in the Cold War period. Germany was divided into four zones of occupation; American, Soviets, French and British, after the defeat of World War II. Berlin itself was further subdivided and located within the Soviet zone, and also occupied by the four powers in four zones.

The Rising Tensions

The relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union began to worsen, eventually becoming an ideological fight that was called the Cold War. These differences put tensions due to differences in political and economic systems interested between the two superpowers with BERLIN beine the center of the conflict.

The Construction Begins

Officially, the construction of the wall started at the end of the World War II, however in fact it started on August 13, 1961, at morning. This event turned out to be quite a surprise for the inhabitants of Berlin as for the rest of the world. Eventually, the East Germany government particularly under the support of the Soviet Union aimed at stopping more people from their country from fleeing to the west.

The Purpose of the Wall

The primary purpose of the Berlin Wall was the same, to keep citizens from escaping East Germany to the free world specifically West Germany. The reason placed forward was the political oppression in the East, the economy, and the wish to have more freedom.

The Design and Structure

It included a number of concrete panels with barbed wire at the top and watch towers and a ‘death strip’ in between. This particular ‘death strip’ consisted of trenches and anti vehicle obstacles and no man’s land; crossing such a zone was very dangerous.

Consequences to Berlin and to the world

The building of the Berlin Wall brought many changes in Berlin as well as in the rest of the world.

In this case, new vessels are sparked off by separation of families and communities thus, becoming the new vessels of transfer.

In many families and communities the partitioning of the two zones was immediate and rather brutal. Many people who used to live, spend time at workplaces and interact in every day’s social environments received and were new and compressed to such a level they have not seen anyone around them. There were so many things one could not count that caused the break-up of this separation and the emotional price may not be measured.

The Symbol of the Cold War

The Berlin Wall was one of the strongest manifestations of the Cold War finally splitting the society. Its location symbolized the clear physical fight between communism in the East side and democracy in the West side during the period.

Attempts to Escape

People from the East so wished they could flee from the grip of the wall and their efforts could be counted in the thousands. Some took their chances and dug through the walls; some attempted to leap out of windows and others even resorted to hot air balloons. However, many people paid the supreme price so as to attain freedom.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was dismantled only after 28 years on 9th November, 1989. This marked event was occasioned by tremendous pressures from the society, political transformations and break up of USSR.

Peaceful Revolution

The attitudes of the two: East Germans had started complaining of the oppressive government and the wall that denied them their fellow Germans. Other usual occupations in achieving these aims included peaceful protests where East Germans stood at the Brandenburg Gate were a vivid example, which led to the tear down of the wall.

Reunification of Germany

The history of Germany and its division and reunification begins with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The unification of East and West Germany took place at October the 3rd in 1990. Demolition of the wall was a global affair signifying new dawn, freedom and the dawn of the post Cold War era.

Conclusion

The most important moment in history was the construction of the Berlin Wall on the 13th of August in 1961. The wall thus became the epitome of cold war era division and the…. When it finally collapsed in 1989 it signalled the end of one phase in German and global history and the start of another.

Its remembrance is an effective message of a need to come together, learn, as well as the ongoing struggle for liberty and people’s rights.