Cold war was a state of high political rivalry and focus between two parties United States and the former Soviet Union after world war two until early 1990s. During this time, Berlin-the capital of Germany-occupied a key position, and turn into one of the most intense theaters of the Cold War.
The Division of Berlin
Following World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the victorious Allies: the USA, the USSR, Great Britain and France. Berlin also was situated in the Soviet zone and was also divided into the four sectors each occupied by one of the Allies.
Over time, ideological differences and political tensions grew between the Allies, leading to the formal establishment of two separate German states: east and west Germany in 1949 by that name of the Federal Republic of Germany and The German Democratic Republic.
This division also grew up to the extent that even in Berlin the political and economic structure of the two German states looked quite different. While, the West Berlin was a capitalist city yying for support of the western Allies and the East Berlin was a socialist city dominated by the Soviet communists.
The Berlin Wall
Political division in the case of Berlin wall made tension and instability to be part of everyday life. East Germans wanted improved standard of living which led to massive exodus from East Germany. To this end, in 1961, the East German government with a Soviet backing put up what is infamously known as the Berlin Wall.
The Berlin Wall was a structure which surrounded the West Berlin and acted as Physical barrier between East Germany and West Berlin. The wall was equipped with ugly guard towers, sharp concertinas and no-man’s land all in an effort to ensure that none of the defectors switched sides in the middle of the conflict.
Its main function was to prevent the exodus of East Germans to west Germans, and physically representing the split between east and west alles. The building of the Berlin Wall put an even stronger border between East and West, and brought even more tension to the Cold War internationally.
Symbol of the Cold War
Because it was divided and always at the brink of a conflict, Berlin evolved into one of the paramount legends of the Cold War. The city was located geographically within East Germany and hence became the battleground between the western world and the communism led Soviet block.
During the Cold War, there were several incidents that took place in Berlin which put the tensions in focus. One example is the Berlin Airlift in 1948-49, with the Soviet Union shutting out West Berlin of all forms of supply and was compelled to rely on being supplied by air. In return, the Allies had provided a huge air drop to the city to show solidarity with its residents and their intentions and determination to counter any aggression from the Soviets.
Berlin was also the scene of significant diplomatic initiatives, such as the well known Kennedy –Khrushchev encounters. Political activity of the city and that the city always remained in the focus of the Cold War as the confrontation between the East and the West.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The transition of political climate for ending the cold and war in late 1980s was the factor. The Soviet Union came into internal conflicts and the Eastern European nations began developing a thirst for democracy. In 1989 various protests swept through East Germany and called for changed in the political system and freedom of travel.
With much pressure heeding to the call the East German government on November 9, 1989 opened up travel to the west for its citizen. This particular decision resulted to joyful celebration by all Berliners who went to the Berlin Wall and started pulling it down. The breakage of the Berlin Wall marked the collapse of the Cold War, and the German constitution.
Berlin and its impact during the cold war
The importance of Berlin in the Cold War cannot still be underemphasized. The city was divided, and the two halves became the symbol of the ideological and political confrontation of the West and the Soviet Union. The division became symbolical of the Cold War, thanks, in particular, to the Berlin Wall.
Presently Berlin is a symbol of the war and its victory during the Cold War period in the world. Museums, memorials, and sections of the wall still remaining get the international visitors acquainted w ith this peculiar period of the world’s history.
Conclusion
When it comes to the Cold War, Berlin should be on everyone’s lips. They became separated in 1945 and construction of the Berlin Wall demonstrated them as a central figure of the conflict between communism and capitalism. Much of the historical narrative of the Cold War occurred in Berlin and the events are still being commemorated to the present.