Said to have been built in 1961, the Berlin Wall was a concrete partition used to separate East and West Berlin during the Cold War. Alone, the symbolic barrier separating East and West was also a representation of the ideological barrier as having stripped off communism from its democratic counterpart. Its effects on the people and the city itself were large and it is still remembered till now. It is important now to look at some of the causes of the construction of the wall and determine if those goals were met.
The Construction of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was built by East Germany in August 1961 in order to stem the rising tide of ‘die Flucht’ or ‘the flight’ of East Germans to the West. Another move the GDR sought to make in order to stop the brain drain, and to help their economy get better was to make their citizens prisoners of East Germany.
At first the GDR constructed a simple barbed wire fence along the border, and then an actual concrete wall that included watchtowers and a ‘death strip’ which was further blocked by other obstacles and mines. Moreover, a wall, this physical barrier provided a complete end to free movement in between the two parts of Berlin.
The Intended Goals
The basic idea behind construction of the Berlin Wall was to ensure that the East Germans did not emigrate to the west. The GDR’s goal to regulate the movements that are out of the country, hoped to keep employees, the inteligentsia and the high-level professionals, hence, stop deepening the crises of the economy even more.
Another was to demonstrate that the socialist regime possesses might and has the ability to enslave the populace. By the construction of the wall, people of East Germany got the feeling that everything was well off, and the evils of the capitalist world in the west were being locked out by the wall.
The Impacts
1. Human Cost:
The following social impacts of the Berlin Wall were destructive to families and individuals that were torn apart. It happened one morning that individuals found themselves separated from friends, family and their living spaces. The wall made extensive emotional suffering and produced protests against GDR’s repressive government.
2. Economic Effects:
It did prevent some skilled personnel from leaving, while at the same time it also did not allow for economic progress. Brain drain pursued through legal and illegal way and East Germany failed to match up its economic prosperity with that of the west.
3. Symbol of the Cold War:
The political division of the world became very obvious during cold war, this has been represented by the berlin wall. It demonstrated the concept of communism knocking out democracy. The wall was symbol of oppression as well as political barrier which committed genocide and social activism across the globe.
4. Fall of the Wall:
The break of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was the symbolic sign of the change, as well as the future of Germany. Ordinary Germans received the non-violent demonstrations, increasing global pressure, the change in power and the initiation of the unification of east and West Germany.
To what Extent did the Berlin Wall Achieve What was Intended?
If you think of the goals of the Berlin Wall it can by estimated that it did not effectively addressed the goal that was was intended to be achieved. Aura though it impounded freedom of movement, tamed and slowed down the process of emigration, the wall was not an option to eradicating people’s hunger for freedom. _failed construction of the wall _that was detrimental to GDR economy and politicsalincrease determination of GDR citizens to seek new life in the west.
The Berlin Wall later turned to symbol of segregation and tyranny; thus, its dismantling happened. But with it, there is an overwhelming history of human loss and the victory over the dark side of human nature- slavery.
Conclusion
The ‘iron curtain’ which was the basis of the Cold War was brought into visible visibility by way of the Berlin wall. Although it is true that it has partially defeated movement and caused injury in people, it left to people a message of division and suffering, but moreover a victory of spirits. The breaking of the wall signified that one could achieve liberation, fight against oppressors, despite the odds stacked against one.
Now there are parts of the Berlin Wall and it being an example of a city and its inhabitants physically and symbolically separated by something but that wall is also a symbol of the people’s struggle and their ability to triumph over their oppression.
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