The Berlin Wall  (Berliner Mauer)

What purpose berlin wall was created?

The Berlin Wall was a barrier that divided the city of Berlin into East and West from 1961 to 1989. The official purpose of the Berlin Wall was to keep Western “fascists” from entering East Germany and undermining the socialist state¹, but it primarily served the objective of stemming mass defections from East to West.

The East German government claimed that the wall was necessary to protect its citizens from the hostile influences of capitalism and imperialism. However, many people in East Germany were unhappy with the lack of freedom and economic opportunities under communism, and wanted to escape to the West. The Berlin Wall became a symbol of the Cold War and the division of Germany.

Berlin Wall Germany Map

Berlin Wall Fall History

The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, was a historic event that marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War and had a profound impact on the reunification of Germany and the broader geopolitical landscape. Here’s a brief history of the events leading up to and surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall:

Background:

• After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the Allied powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union.
• The city of Berlin, located in the Soviet occupation zone, was also divided into four sectors, one for each Allied power.
• Tensions between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union led to the division of Germany into West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) and East Germany (German Democratic Republic or GDR) in 1949. East Germany became a communist state under Soviet influence, while West Germany became a democratic and capitalist nation.
• The border between East and West Germany was initially open, allowing people to move freely between the two states. However, as tensions escalated during the Cold War, East Germans began defecting to the West in large numbers.

Construction of the Berlin Wall:

• To stem the mass exodus of East Germans to the West, the GDR government, with Soviet approval, decided to build a barrier in Berlin.
• In the early hours of August 13, 1961, East German troops and workers began constructing the Berlin Wall, initially consisting of barbed wire and barricades.
• Over time, the wall evolved into a formidable structure, featuring concrete walls, watchtowers, and heavily fortified checkpoints. It effectively cut off East Berlin from West Berlin.

Life Behind the Wall:

• The Berlin Wall divided families, friends, and a city, with East Berliners effectively imprisoned in their own city.
• Many East Germans attempted daring escapes across the wall, risking their lives to reach the West. Tragically, numerous escape attempts resulted in deaths.

The Fall of the Wall:

• By the late 1980s, the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellite states were experiencing political upheaval and reform movements.
• In East Germany, protests against the authoritarian government of Erich Honecker grew, and a desire for greater freedom and reunification with West Germany became widespread.
• On November 4, 1989, a massive demonstration in East Berlin attracted hundreds of thousands of protesters.
• Under mounting pressure, the East German government decided to allow its citizens to travel freely to West Germany and West Berlin. The announcement was made on the evening of November 9, 1989.
• Confusion ensued at the checkpoints, and the situation escalated as crowds of East Germans gathered at the Berlin Wall.
• Overwhelmed border guards eventually gave in, and on the night of November 9, people began climbing and tearing down the wall. Joyous celebrations erupted on both sides.

Aftermath:

• The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of the division of Germany and marked a significant step toward the end of the Cold War.
• It paved the way for the reunification of East and West Germany, which officially took place on October 3, 1990.
• The reunification of Germany had a profound impact on Europe’s political landscape and contributed to the dissolution of the Eastern Bloc.

The fall of the Berlin Wall was a momentous event in history, representing the triumph of freedom and democracy over authoritarianism and the division of nations. It remains a powerful symbol of the desire for unity and the end of the Cold War era.

When did the berlin wall come down

The Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989

Who created berlin wall?

The Berlin Wall was built by the Communist government of East Germany in 1961, with the support of the Soviet Union, to prevent its citizens from fleeing to the West. The Wall divided the city of Berlin into two parts: East Berlin, which was under the control of the East German regime, and West Berlin, which was allied with the Western powers.

The Wall was a symbol of the Cold War and the ideological conflict between communism and democracy. It was also a source of suffering and oppression for many people who were separated from their families, friends, and jobs by the Wall. The Wall was finally demolished in 1989, after a series of peaceful protests and diplomatic negotiations that led to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the reunification of Germany.

How big was Berlin Wall?

The 155-kilometer-long Berlin Wall, which cut through the middle of the city center, surrounded West Berlin from August 13, 1961 to November 9, 1989. The Wall was designed to prevent people from escaping to the West from East Berlin.

Who broke the Berlin Wall first?

There is no definitive answer to who broke the Berlin Wall first, as it was a collective effort by many people over time. However, some possible candidates are:

• The East German border guards who opened the gates on the night of November 9, 1989, allowing thousands of East Berliners to cross into West Berlin. They were following the orders of their superior, Harald Jäger, who decided to let the crowds pass after hearing a confusing announcement by a Politburo member that travel restrictions would be lifted immediately.
• The West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who negotiated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to secure his support for German reunification. Kohl also offered economic aid to the struggling East German government and promised to respect the existing borders of Poland.
• The Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who initiated a series of reforms in the USSR that led to the end of the Cold War and the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. He refused to intervene militarily when the East German regime faced mass protests and allowed the peaceful reunification of Germany..
• The Hungarian government, which opened its border with Austria on August 19, 1989, creating a breach in the Iron Curtain. This allowed thousands of East Germans to escape to the West via Hungary and Austria, putting pressure on the East German regime to ease its travel restrictions.
• The ordinary citizens of East and West Germany, who participated in peaceful demonstrations, civil disobedience, and acts of solidarity that challenged the legitimacy of the Berlin Wall and the division of Germany. They also celebrated together when the Wall fell, and helped to dismantle it with hammers and chisels.

Berlin wall Germany map

Here is a map of the Berlin Wall, which was a barrier that divided the city of Berlin into East and West from 1961 to 1989. You can see the location of the Wall, the border strip, the inner and outer walls, the points of interest, the memorials, the border crossings, and the East Side Gallery. You can also zoom in and out and move around the map to explore different areas of Berlin.

Why was Germany split in two?

Germany was split in two after World War II as a result of the Allied occupation and the Cold War. The Allies divided Germany into four zones of occupation, each controlled by one of the four powers: the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. The capital city of Berlin, which was located in the Soviet zone, was also divided into four sectors.

The original intention was to administer Germany as a single entity and to prepare it for eventual reunification. However, as the tensions between the Western powers and the Soviet Union increased, the cooperation among the Allies broke down. The Soviet Union wanted to keep Germany weak and dependent, while the Western powers wanted to rebuild Germany as a democratic and prosperous state.

The differences became evident in 1948, when the Western Allies introduced a new currency in their zones, which the Soviets saw as a threat to their control over Germany. The Soviets responded by imposing a blockade on West Berlin, cutting off all supplies to the city. The Western Allies airlifted food and fuel to West Berlin for almost a year, until the Soviets lifted the blockade in 1949. By then, the division of Germany was complete.

In May 1949, the Western zones merged to form the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), or West Germany, with a parliamentary democracy and a market economy. In October 1949, the Soviet zone became the German Democratic Republic (GDR), or East Germany, with a communist dictatorship and a planned economy. The two German states had different political, economic, and social systems, and were aligned with their respective blocs in the Cold War.

 The border between them became heavily fortified, especially after 1961, when East Germany built the Berlin Wall to prevent its citizens from escaping to the West. The division of Germany lasted for more than four decades, until 1989, when a series of peaceful protests and reforms in East Germany led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism. In 1990, after negotiations with the four Allied powers and the approval of both German parliaments, Germany was officially reunified as a single sovereign state.

Read More History of Germany