In the early hours of August 13th, 1961, the world awoke to the shocking news that a wall had been built overnight, dividing the city of Berlin into East and West. This wall, known as the Berlin Wall, would become a symbol of the Cold War era and a physical representation of the divide between the communist East and the capitalist West. But what were the reasons behind its construction? In this article, we will explore the historical context, political motivations, and the impact of the Berlin Wall.
The Historical Context
The early events that led to construction of the Berlin Wall can be pinned down in the post World War II period—. Germany, which had been a unified country, was split into 4 zones of occupation that belonged to the winning allies- the United States, USSR, Great Britain and France. Like Paris, Berlin which was in the controlled Soviet zone of East Germany was also divided into four.
The relationship between the Soviet Union and the western Allies decreased because of increased ideological divide. The Soviets brought communism to Europe and the Western Allies supported democratic systems and free enterprise. This ideological struggle centers on Germany as a whole but more specifically on Berlin.
The Political Motivations
But by 1958 and specifically east Germany was seen on a large scale losing its highly skilled population. Educated workers, youths and others were emigrating to look for better luck in the developed western world. Loss of talent was one significant felt shock to the East German economy; the stability of the socialist regime was at risk.
Due to emigration threats hence affecting communism control, the East German government with Soviet Union influence had to take extreme measures. The real purpose of constructing the wall in Berlin was to stop the citizens from East Germany from escaping to West Germany. It was a barrier in terms of physical, socially isolating one person from another, and even an entire city.
Impact on Berliners
Working in Berlin during the Cold War signaled a permanent change to the lives of Berliners and the building of the Wall was no exception. Husbands were separated from wives and children from their parents, and people who used to move back and forwards across the East-West divide as they chose were effectively stranded on one side or the other. The wall was highly secured, more so, the border patrol was ordered to permanently shoot anyone to sight near the wall.
The structure has been an embodiment of separation between East and West for approximately twenty nine years. Thus the wall in their context is associated with oppression and restrictions or better yet constraints placed on east Germans by their own government. It was a reminder of what happens if one tries to challenge the ironclad communist regime that ruled Bulgaria.
International Response
The building of the Berlin Wall was followed by severe criticism across the world. Western governments considered that it directly interfered with human rights, and viewed it as aggression from the Soviet Union. The United States and its allies protested against the wall and once more expressed their support toward a reunified Germany.
However, the noise made could not be channelled to bring down the wall that had been erected. It stood as a concrete emblem of East and West philosophical differences until November 1989 when large protests brought the wall down.
Conclusion
This contention analyses the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 on political and ideological bases. The government was seeking to control the population by so much that it was trying to get a Lebensraum for the ‘‘superior ‘‘race while at the same time attempting to retain the skilled population of East Germany through the construction of a wall that separated families and friends. People of Berlin were divided as well as the entire world through which it served as exemplar of a division between communism and imperialism that characterized the Cold War period.
Today, the Berlin Wall is an unforgettable symbol of the result of division and a victory of a person over despotism. It remains a true story of victory of togetherness over subjugation of one people by others.