On November 9, 1989; an event occurred that changed the county as a whole; the Berlin Wall fell. This significant event represented the end of communism in Germany. The German Democratic Republic (GDR) reunited with the Federal Republic of Germany on October 3, 1990; one year after the Wall fell. When the Berlin Wall fell, both East and West Berlin became physically reunified. There was no longer a wall standing in between the two sides and from here on out, two cities became one once again. This was a physically reconnection of two sides of East and West Berlin and the beginning of the loss of identity for those had previously lived in East Berlin (Leventhal).
Kubicek believes that due to many years that East and West Germany were divided that the people of each side developed differently and had different values. Each side had created it’s own educational system, government and political and views. Kubicek quoted one writer, “It will take us longer to tear down the wall in our heads….” (17). This also applied to those living in East and West Berlin. East Berliners also viewed those living in West Berlin as “boastful, aggressive and insensitive” (Leventhal). They felt unwelcomed and the other half of the city felt very different to them. West Berliners viewed their side of the city as being less safe and now too crowded and those from East Berlin were known as the poorer people. City services were duplicated and in the East side were either closed or lost. Examples
For thirty years, an iron curtain lay across Germany. This iron curtain was called the Berlin Wall, and it represented the divide between East and West Germany. It also represented the loss of East Germany’s freedom and democracy. The Berlin Wall separated families and friends. This resulted in children growing up without a father and wives losing all communication with their husbands. The Berlin Wall poorly affected many people and businesses, and caused an ugly dent in Germany’s history.
German sides reunited, and by the end of the year the Berlin Wall was the most recognizable
The holocaust was a time of destruction or slaughter on a mass scale caused by fire or nuclear war. During the holocaust millions of Jews were killed by the Nazis during WWII. The Berlin Wall was a time in which a barrier was constructed in 1961 to separate East Berlin from west Berlin. I believe that the holocaust and the Berlin Wall made great impacts to many and had many alikes. They both had similar situations and in both the Germans were involved as was the killing.
THESIS: From research and historical analysts, we can conclude that in many cases the people of Germany have been effected socially and economically by the building and construction of the Berlin Wall.
Germany was split in two by the Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1989. This wall had many reasons to be torn down but one reason it was up was to separate Eastern Germany from Western Germany. This separation would cause many issues at the tearing down of the wall in 1989. The reason Eastern Germany was separated from Western Germany was because Eastern Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union, due to the Cold War. This wall was built to stop the communist Eastern Germans from seeking refuge in non-communistic Western Germany.
Today the city of Berlin is a thriving city with excellent nightlife unlike it was in the midst of the cold war. Although the reunification of the two sides was painstaking and expensive, Berlin and all of Germany is growing to be a magnificent city today. In spite of all this you can still see the differences between the two sides of Germany today. Whether it's the economy, population, or school leavers, the contrast is clear and present today. Regardless Germany is working to be a stronger, more peaceful, and unified country. ("Fall of the
The eastern and western parts of the city were divided ideologically. Symbolizing the differences between the western democrats and the eastern communists and the way they thought Germany should be lead. It also meant the inner conflict of Germany and the division between “free” or democratic. Some historians believe that another reason the Berlin Wall was raised was in an attempt to foment relationships between the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. The Berlin Wall’s fall enforced the ideology of the Western countries (capitalism) and symbolized the failure of what was supposed to be a government which brought equality for all.
Following the fall of the Third Reich at the end of WWII Germany was split between east and west into two different countries. In the east the German Democratic Republic was under communist rule and was supported by the Soviet Union. The Federal German Republic was a democracy that was part of NATO. As part of the division of Germany following WWII, Berlin, the capital of Germany was divided evenly between the two nations. However, the entire city of Berlin was deep inside of the GDR, so the Western half of the city was democratic but it was surrounded by communist territory. This made West Berlin a place where many East Germans would try to escape to. As a result of this the German Democratic Republic built a wall surrounding West Berlin to stop its own people from escaping to freedom.
The Berlin Wall, built in August of 1961, was s physical symbol of the political and emotional divisions of Germany.
The Berlin Wall is a historical symbol of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall is a symbol of the end of the Cold War. And also, the Berlin Wall played a great role in the life of millions of people and defined the fate of German people, which put them apart by the Wall for a long period of time. Sixteen years after the end of World War II, the communist government of East Germany began building a wall on (August 13, 1961), that would divide the city of Berlin into East Berlin and West Berlin. The purpose was to keep fascists from entering East Germany, but mostly to keep West German citizens, primarily people of valuable professions such as doctors, teachers and engineers, from Changing side to the West. People of Berlin Called the wall Schandmaur, which actually means " The wall of shame". Over the years of the wall being constructed it took at least 3x times to rebuild it, but each time bigger than the last one.
These blockades later became the infamous “Berlin Wall”. The wall was infamous because it “stood as a grim symbol of totalitarian socialism” (“Berlin Wall” 2). “The soviets tried to control all of berlin by blockading the roads.”(“Berlin Wall 2). After the building of the wall the Westerners responded with the Berlin Airlift. The Airlift was was series of helicopter flights that supplied the country with food and supplies. The Airlift not only helped them in their food situation but also caused success for the economy in western Germany. The wall was later destroyed after the Eastern Cabinet resigned. On “November 7… hundreds of thousands of Berliners took to the streets, breaching the wall in frenzied celebration.” (“Berlin Wall” 3). This was a momentous day as the effect of the wall was essentially imprisonment for the people on the eastern side. The wall was armed with guards that were instructed to kill anyone who attempted to escape. The destruction of the wall was significant because it displayed how things can be accomplished without violence. Then 21 days later “West Germany outlined a proposal calling for the reunification of the nation” (“Berlin Wall” 3). All in one year the wall that stood as a sign of separation was destroyed and the two sides were
After World War Two, Germany was war ravaged and destroyed. The Allies, Britain, France, United States and the Soviet Union occupied the war-torn and defeated Germany. Germany was split into two sections. The Western part controlled by the U.S., France, and Great Britain. The Eastern part of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union. Tensions between the West and East emerged during what became known as the Cold War period (1945-1989). The difference in ideologies and ideas led to close calls to war between the west and east. Within the Eastern part of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), society was being controlled ruthlessly by the government. In Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall, Anna Funder discussed the struggles East Germans
In the East, people were unable to leave and people were unable to get many luxuries such as coffee. Families were separated by the Wall and many died trying to get over it, or in some cases, under it. The Berlin Wall meant to many people a loss in human rights and freedom.
The Berlin Wall had a major impact on humanity’s views on how society should be ruled. Berlin is the capital of Germany. After the ending of WWII, Berlin was split up into East Berlin, and West Berlin. East Berlin was communist, suffered from the repressions of the Communist Party. West Berlin had a better lifestyle, and had financial aid from the United States. From the years between nineteen forty-nine to nineteen sixty-one, approximately 2.5 million people from East Berlin escaped to West Berlin. This toll included skilled workers, professionals, and intellectuals. Because of the loss of these people, the economy in East Berlin was threatened. On August twelve-thirteen, nineteen sixty-one, the Berlin was built in order to stop the people of East Berlin from fleeing. The Berlin wall was a major point during the Cold War, and many opposed it. It gave another reason to detest communism.
People broke down the wall and Berlin was no longer a divided city; West and East Germany was a big country again