As one of the Cold War most defining representations, The Berlin Wall was still standing separating East and West Berlin for nearly three decades. It is impossible to quantify the political, social and emotional costs of building and maintaining the wall, but few can deny that it could not have been built without considerable investment. Therefore, let addressing the cost of maintaining the Berlin Wall and the consequences it had on both sides.
The Initial Cost of Building the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall was built on 13th August, 1961 by the German Democratic Republic or more commonly known as the East Germany. At the beginning the main function of the wall built was to prevent East Germany from losing its population to West Germany, which was much richer. This was the estimated cost of the wall construction: 16 million East German Marks which are equivalent to approximately $3.8 million USD at that time.
Annual Maintenance Costs
Despite the initial cost of construction the operating costs of the Berlin Wall were over its lifetime of nearly thirty years more than double the initial costs. The functionality of this physical barrier mandated periodic surveillance, repairing and security enhancement.
1. Border Guards and Security
About 14000 guards protected the_border along the Berlin wall during the whole period of construction. They were entitled to overseeing perceived threat in the wall as well as deterring any form of escape and rebellion. Besides the wages paid to these guards, the cost of providing them with tools and tutoring them on how to protect this wall was also charged to the expense of handling the wall.
2. Infrastructure and Repairs
The Berlin Wall was estimated to be built for about 96 miles using concrete wall and barriers, wires, watch towers, and other components of defense system. Maintaining several structures in different countries to keep running and at optimum level hence deserved constant repairs and maintaining. There were always costs accrued from weather condition, attempted escape and even natural deterioration of facilities.
3. Anti-Escape Measures
The East Germans took several steps in an effort to prevent people from escaping including putting up more wire, putting down concrete like material that could not be dug up and laying out deep ditches that would stop vehicles from approaching. All these measures were aimed at enhancing the challenge in crossing the wall hence incurring much costs in maintaining the equipment to functional status.
Effects on the East German Economy
Although the exactions for the annual maintenance of Berlin Wall are still unknown, it is believed that East German Government spent RD-for around 3-5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) for the maintenance of security forces inclusive of Berlin Wall. These remain a major impediment because they are expensive and dem mean a lot of resources could have been expended on productive economic activities.
The Fall of the Wall and Its Financial Impact
In November 1989 the Berlin Wall fell, the politicians in East and West Germany decided to join East and West GERMANY AGAIN. As a result, the removal of the wall erased a financial strain that was practically incurred in the periodic maintenance of the wall. Germany, since it reunified primarily concentrated on infrastructural reform, education and over all improvement in its economy.
Conclusion
This paper examines the ‘‘Maintenance’’ costs, associated with guards, repairs, constructions, infrastructures, and anti-escape structures of the Berlin Wall. The burden that it placed on the East German economy meant not only that it was a problem financially, but a problem geopolitically as well. Today Berlin Wall symbolizes the devastating human and financial loss that division implies.
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