The Berlin Wall, a concrete and barbed wire barrier that encircled the Western sector of Berlin, was built by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) beginning on August 13, 1961. Officially called the "anti-fascist protective wall" by the GDR, its construction divided Berlin physically and ideologically during the Cold War. The following key factors led to the construction of the Berlin Wall:
1. Mass Exodus and Brain Drain:
After World War II, Berlin, although divided into four sectors occupied by the Allied powers (United states, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union), remained a relatively open city. However, East Germans, disillusioned with the communist regime, began to leave the GDR for West Germany in increasingly large number seeking economic opportunities and political freedoms. This exodus threatened to undermine the GDR's economy and stability, as many skilled professionals and workers fled to the West.
2. The Berlin Crisis:
In response to the mass exodus, the Soviet Union, which controlled East Germany, imposed restrictions on travel between the Eastern and Western sectors of Berlin in 1958. This led to the Berlin Crisis, which brought tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies to a boiling point. The US, Britain and France refused to recognize East Germany or Soviet authority over East Berlin, leading to a standoff.
3. Construction of the Wall:
In an attempt to stem the flow of East Germans to the West, the GDR, with the backing of the Soviet Union, began constructing the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961. The wall divided Berlin into two distinct entities, effectively sealing off East Berlin from West Berlin and further separating East Germany from West Germany.
4. Symbolic and Political significance:
The sudden and unexpected erection of the Berlin Wall not only divided a city but also served as a physical manifestation of the ideological division between the Eastern Bloc countries and the Western world during the Cold War. It became a symbol of the oppression, authoritarian control, and limitations on personal freedom imposed by communist regimes in Eastern Europe.
5. Reactions and Response:
The construction of the Berlin Wall drew sharp criticism and condemnation from Western nations and its effects on the lives of Berliners were widely felt. The division of families and friend was particularly heart wrenching, as many were unexpectedly separated by the wall. The Berlin Wall remained a flashpoint of tension until its fall on November 9, 1989, when East Germany finally allowed its citizens to travel freely to the West, leading to the eventual reunification of Germany.