The Berlin Wall Essay, Research Paper
Introduction
Today people belong to the CNN coevals. Any clip an event happens in
the universe today people turn to CNN. In recent old ages, the Gulf War, and the events
in Bosnia have been stars. In 1989, one event monopolized the air passages of
CNN, THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL. I remember seeing this, and believing
how small I knew about this event. The autumn of the Berlin Wall succeeded in one
facet that today is still non been rectified ; The Berlin Wall divided Berlin into two
really distinctively different metropoliss. These metropoliss both developed otherwise. Even
after the wall was destroyed eight old ages ago the metropolis still remained divided, and is
still divided today. Following World War II, the Alliess had begun this split that was
greatly expanded following the edifice of the wall. The split of the metropolis was
wanted greatly by the Soviets, but non the other Alliess.
When I joined the ground forces being stationed in Germany didn? T truly appeal to
me. I wanted to remain stateside, with small travel, Traveling on a one to two twelvemonth
adversity overseas circuit did non appeal to me. But after 1989, I put in petition to be
sent to Germany. I arrived in January 1990 three months after the wall collapsed.
When I visited the wall five inquiries about the wall and German society
surfaced ; First what was the background of the wall why was it created, 2nd
how and when was the wall constructed, and of what stuff, 3rd what were the
measurings of the wall, Berlin is a immense metropolis, 4th the facets around the autumn of
the wall, and the existent autumn, and fifth after siting the Berlin sub-way, how did these
tunnels affect the travel within the metropolis, and the differing civilizations of the two differing
metropoliss of East and West Berlin. In this scrutiny I will eventually reply these
inquiries that I asked my self seven old ages ago. These inquiries all center around
the facet of Berlin going Two metropoliss following World War II.
Berlin, eight old ages after the autumn of the celebrated wall is now busy reconstructing
and redefining itself. Since my initial visit I have returned to see friends every other
twelvemonth. The metropolis is no longer restricted by its cold war position as the symbolic dividing
line between East and West. Berlin is the new political, cultural, and architectural
capital of Germany and is rapidly going one of the key concern centres in all of
Europe. Before Hitler came to power and lost World War II, Berlin had enjoyed
this position. The German authorities hopes today to prepare Berlin as a possible
capital of the new European Union. They are preparing at that place economic system, and the metropolis
to be the focal point.
Background
After World War II Berlin, was severely damaged during the war, unlike World
War I. The Soviet Union wanted to convey the war to German dirt. The Soviets
harbored many difficult feelings toward the German people. The metropolis was surrounded
by the German Democratic Republic/East Germany, and was partitioned into East
Berlin and West Berlin. The metropolis was in the Soviet sector of the post-war division.
But the capital excessively was divided among the winning Alliess, to maintain the capital with
democratic ideals.
The divided metropolis non merely symbolized the prostration of the German Empire, of
which it was the capital, but besides became a focal point of cold-war tensenesss
between the Communist states led by the Union of Soviet Socialist
Democracies and the group of Western states led by the United States. The
Berlin wall, a wall dividing East and West Berlin was built by the East
Germans in 1961, blocked free entree in both waies until 1989 ; by the
clip Germany was unified in October 1990, much of the wall had been torn
down. ( 1 )
Because of dissatisfaction with the economic and political conditions, an increasing
figure of people left East Germany ( German Democratic Republic ) . from? January to the
beginning of August 1961, approximately 160,000 refugees were counted? ( 2 ) Besides, the international
political state of affairs was tense. On Nov. 27, 1958 the Soviets delivered their Berlin ultimatum,
demanding that the western Alliess should retreat their military personnels from West Berlin and that West
Berlin should go a free metropolis within six months. They believed without allied support West
Berlin would besides fall under their control. On Feb. 2 1959, the menace of settling a separate
peace pact between the USSR the German Democratic Republic ( GDR ) followed.
The meeting between US President Kennedy and the Prime Minister of the USSR,
Kruschev, on June 3 & A ; 4 1961 ended without any noticeable consequences.
The East German authorities had one end at this clip ; forestalling people
from go forthing the GDR. At an international imperativeness conference on June 15 1961,
Walter Ulbricht The leader of the East German Communist party, SED, and
President of the Privy Council. Answered to the inquiry of a journalist.
I understand your inquiry as follows: there are people in West Germany
who want us to mobilise the building workers of the GDR to construct a wall.
I am non cognizant of any such programs & # 8230 ; No 1 has the purpose of building a
wall. ( 3 )
This statement could be seen as the truth or in the facet that he knew nil about
the programs of the wall. It was seen that the Soviets unlike the other Alliess did non be after
to give up their influence in the metropolis. The Berlin airlift of 1947-49 is a great illustration
of the Soviet aspirations to go on to command their sector even after they were
supposed to go forth During the Berlin Air lift The Soviets cut off supply paths to the
metropolis. the lone manner supplies could be brought into the metropolis was to wing over and drop
them. The Alliess from Frankfurt began the about three twelvemonth attempt to provide West
Berliners with supplies. The succeeded and the Soviets finally gave in. They
did nevertheless make stricter guidelines on come ining the metropolis to include the development
of the ill-famed? : Checkpoint Charlie, ? the last checkpoint on the autobahn before
come ining East Berlin.
Construction OF THE WALL
The building of the wall harmonizing to the Soviet Government was non a
planned event. The undermentioned description is given to demo that no programs were
pre-done before they started.
? Early on in the forenoon of Sunday August 13, 1961, the GDR began under the
leading of Erich Honecker to barricade off East Berlin and the GDR from
West Berlin by agencies of biting wire and antitank obstructions. Streets were
torn up, and roadblocks of paving rocks were erected. Tanks gathered at
important topographic points. The metro and local railroad services between East and
West Berlin were interrupted. Inhabitants of East Berlin and the GDR were
no longer allowed to come in West Berlin, In the undermentioned yearss building
brigades began replacing the probationary barriers with a solid wall. ( 4 )
The western Alliess showed small reaction, they showed more reaction during
the encirclement of 1947 to 1949, The Alliess participated in a monolithic airlift in which
Gallic, US, and British planes were dropping 8,000 dozenss of nutrient and fuel into the
metropolis daily which forced the Sovietss to give up their encirclement.
When East German military personnels began their building of the 25 pes
wall made of concrete and barbed wire, they were puting the foundation for the
ill-famed wall
West Berlin? s city manager Willie Brandt? s policy of Ostopolitik allowed West
Germans to see their households in the East ; nevertheless East Germans could non
travel to the West unless they escaped, and many died seeking. ( 5 )
After August 23, 1961, citizens of West Berlin were no longer allowed to come in East
Berlin. On September 20, 1962, Peter Fechter, an Eighteen twelvemonth old citizen of East
Berlin Bled to decease after he was shot down by East Berlin boundary line frequenter in an
effort to get away over the wall, going the first of many to decease trying to
flight to the West.
On June 21, 1963, the curate of Nation Defense of the GDR gave orders
refering installing of a boundary line country at the frontier between the GDR and West
Berlin. Afterwards dwellers of East Berlin life within a distance of one
100 metres had to register. These citizens were populating in a danger zone. Their
houses were with-in position of the West side of the metropolis. When I was at that place this
lodging issue was rather seeable. These people could see the capitalist West, while
staying to populate in the Communist East.
When building of the wall was complete the western leaders declared it
an? Anti-fascist protection wall. ? Unlike the Berlin air-lift the western leaders could
non drop nutrient, and goods into the E. The metropolis of Berlin was now a divided metropolis,
one side as a capitalist democracy, and the other a communist province. But inside the
metropoliss they were more differences than political relations, Economicss, sociology, and entire
life styles of the citizens were going a major difference.
Measurements OF THE WALL
The boundary line between West Berlin and East Berlin and the GDR had a entire
length of 166 kilometers, and at that place was a profoundly staggered system of barriers. There
was the physical wall with a length of 107 kilometer. ( 4 )
The simple enormousness of the metropolis of Berlin proved that they could non construct a wall to
near in the full metropolis.
The country around the concrete wall looked like ; First, there was the wall which
was made up of concrete sections with a tallness of about 20 pess, normally
with a concrete tubing on top. Behind it on the Eastern side there was an
illuminated control country, called the decease country. Refugees trying flight
that got over the wall were shot in this country therefore the name as the decease country.
Following this country was a trench that would forestall vehicles from interrupting
through. Then there was a frequenter path, a corridor with watchdogs, ticker
towers and sand traps, and a 2nd wall. ( 4 )
My feeling of this country at first was that it would hold been simple to merely leap
off an flat edifice with a sailplane and canvas across. I than observed the country of
the wall still standing with old ages and Numberss underneath. I subsequently found out that
these Numberss stood for the figure of people killed in that given twelvemonth for
trying to get away. Peoples did flight but harmonizing to my guide many more than
the Numberss on the wall were killed in trying. Escape was a dream, but one time a
citizen escaped he had to hold a major program, The West German embassy could non
trade with all the escapee? s. Other states wanted to assist, but they did non desire to
abuse the East German authorities. So when a individual escaped they were treated
trouble, and most frequently needed household and money to remain out.
The boundary line in the metropolis cut through 192 streets, 97 taking in to East Berlin and
95 taking into the GDR. This whole country was the metropolis subdivision of the
barricade/wall, but the wall extended 59 kilometer without a physical wall.
When the wall foremost went up the Country subdivision was merely about the? leakiest?
portion it, and many escapees made it to the West through Fieldss and forests, and
even through people? s gardens and summer houses. But easy and certainly,
over clip, all the topographic points where flight was possible were plugged up. Any
constructing stopping point to the boundary line was demolished. ( 1 )
Thingss in the state subdivision were far more complex than in the metropolis subdivision of the
wall. The state subdivision was invariably guarded as was the metropolis subdivision. But in
the state planes, armored combat vehicles, Canis familiariss, and rolling mass patrols were used. In the metropolis
subdivision there were monolithic towers about every two-hundred metres. these
towers housed armed guards, armed with automatic rifles, grenade throwsters, and
they excessively had a rolling patrol with Canis familiariss. To even believe about flight would be brainsick
but the construct of freedom led adult male to really get away.
There were three expresswaies running out from West Berlin to West
Germany, and the Railway had to travel through every bit good, and there was besides a
canal system for the conveyance of heavy supplies like coal. ( 5 )
The enormousness of the metropolis meant that goods and services had to come in from the
outside, they utilized the expresswaies, Railway and the canal system, these countries
were more to a great extent guarded than others.
Simply get awaying in the state subdivision was more than m
erely walking around
the wall, this due to the fact that the wall was deep in the center of East Germany,
and the fact that it was hardly 50 kilometres from the Polish boundary line. To get away
Berlin a refugee than needed to take the long journey someplace. The nearest
boundary line was Poland, at the clip another communist state. Escaping in the metropolis a
individual entered West Berlin, In West Berlin they were in a free province, with
embassy? s and possible household ties that could help them in acquiring into West
Germany. They still did necessitate person to help them financially, and socially by
giving them a topographic point to remain.
THE FALL OF THE WALL
During the period of the divided metropolis between East and West Berlin, West
Berlin enjoyed great economic growing, while East Berlin remained in a province of small
growing. West Berlin received assistance from its democratic friends along with West
Germany, which was going an economic power. East Germany relied on its
communist patriarch. The Soviet Union due to rough feelings following the pacts
after World War I, used there business following World War II to fuel the Black Marias
of their people of past adversities that the German civilization had given there nationality.
By doing them experience inferior.
Once in Berlin, the west side was like many other booming western metropoliss. In
fact, booming a good trade more than most, due to heavy support and subsidy
by the Federal authorities, to maintain this outstation of the West in a healthy
status. It seems uneven, now, that such a unusual state of affairs, West Berlin
being? walled-in, could be taken for so many old ages as normalcy. But so it
was. To us so, that wall was lasting, and the opportunities of it of all time coming
down ridiculously little. ( 4 )
This being of two separate metropoliss both with differing economic position, and the
political civilization of Europe at the clip are frequently seen as grounds for the autumn of the
Berlin wall. But the autumn was due to bigger grounds. The people of the differing
Berlin? s, were in some cases household, The old ages of the separation were taking to
an rebellion. The new coevals of Berliner? s had ne’er known the metropolis as one.
President Kennedy upon sing Kennedy made his celebrated statement Eich Bein Ein
Berliner. This translates that he like the citizens of Berlin was besides a citizen of
Berlin. This statement when given through original interlingual rendition stated that Kennedy
was Berlin. This harmonizing to my usher on my original circuit of Berlin. The
statement was corrected for its imperativeness release nevertheless.
When Gorbachev? s perestroika swept through the Soviet Union and Eastern
Europe, the storm of reform did non jump over Berlin. East Germans watched the
boundary line between Hungary and Austria come down and began go forthing at the rate of
200 people a dark. The citizens of East Berlin were going agitated, the
authorities was in no place to defy them and in November 1989 the wall came
down. People all over the universe witnessed this on CNN, People from all over
wanted to be involved in this historical juncture. The wall had served as a symbol
for a coevals in Germany, that had been split. On the universe range people wanted
to hold an impact on this major civilization event that changed Europe. When the wall
was eventually penetrated people stopped in silence to retrieve those who had died in
trying to get away to the West. In February 1989 the last killed refugee was
Chris Gueffroy, He about made it across but was caught in biting wire while
creeping across, he was shot while entangled in the wire. He like many others
suffered the destiny of decease in trying to make something he had ne’er attained
freedom. Merely nine months subsequently the sweeping reforms were to open the wall once more.
If he had merely known. If any of the people who died had merely known that it was non
every bit lasting as believed. The cultural coevals of this divided metropolis for a
coevals would finally make hopefully the new capital of the coming
European Union, to citizens of East Berlin before the autumn would ne’er be a world,
but in West Berlin, the citizens ever hoped the metropolis would once more be united to its
pre wall illustriousness.
Even though the wall was gone, the metropolis and the state remained divided.
An full coevals of Germans grew up cognizing two separate Germanys. Many
Germans when I was there still saw these East Berliners, as 2nd category citizens.
They still did non see them as Germans. They saw them as they saw Austrians,
A West German pupil at Berlin? s free University said of the East Berliners.
she still can? t agitate the thought that East Germany is portion of Germany. It is like
Oesterreichs ; they speak German, but they are another state, they have their
ain battles and we have ours. ( 7 )
These sentiments even in my last visit in 1995 were still prevailing, people are glad
the wall is down, but they still frequently refer to East German? s and West German? s as
if they are from differing states. The different metropolis? s through the wall epoch
developed different civilizations, and economic systems. Many citizens of the West Berlin
background do non believe it is their duty to convey East Berlin into the
Twentieth century. When a individual enters East Berlin they can detect huge
differences. But these differences are altering East Berlin is today the building
Mecca of Europe.
While the West was constructing West Berlin into a memorial to capitalist economy, East
Berlin became a really widely distributed and modern metropolis, by communist criterions.
However a dramatic contrast in the two metropoliss? life criterions remained. West
Berliners had entree to a huge array of goods from all over the universe, while the East
Berlin shopping territory, Alexanderplatz, comprised of begrimed stores selling a hapless
choice of low quality goods. could merely sell goods created in East Germany, or
other communist states.
Mercedes and BMWs were common in West Berlin, while Trabis, the East
German-built, three-cylinder auto that easterners waited up to ten old ages to acquire
crowded Berlin streets. These autos were made of fibres, when the multitudes left after
the wall collapsed the streets were flooded with abandoned Trabis. The authorities
began to fire these. Or sell them stingily. When I was stationed in Germany I
bought one of these for 50 dollars. It had a two shot engine in which I had to
blend my gas with oil, like a chain-saw. The auto ran good, and was a parking dream.
It could merely make 75 Kilometers an hr, which was decelerate on the
Autobahn, but it got me around without holding to trust on the public transit
system, that I had problem apprehension.
THE U-BAHN AND GERMAN SOCIETY SINCE THE FALL
When I took a drive on the Berlin U-Bahn I was shocked when I entered the
Eastern side and saw that there Stationss were non like the streets. These Stationss
were decorated extravagantly, they made the Stationss in the Western side expression bad. In the
Mohrenstrasse station I observed munificent ruddy marble pillars and walls. I found myself
inquiring how a devastated economic system could afford such extravagancies. These
were the most munificent sub-way Stationss I had of all time seen. Where did these lucubrate
ornaments come from?
they didn? t wage for the marble they looted it from Hitler? s demolished
chancellery, merely across the route. Everything else of disbursal in East Berlin
in these first few old ages was from Hitler, ( 7 ) .
These Stationss were freshly opened, even in 1990 on the walls they had postings from
the late 1950? s. The postings I observed were of Berlin degeneracy, they were of the
Berlin metropolis opera, and cultural events that during the wall epoch people in East Berlin
ne’er had a opportunity to see. The full coevals ne’er knew of the metropoliss
one time illustriousness.
Berlin when the wall was built did hold an belowground railroad system. the
railroad system was begun to be built in 1896, These lines before the wall. did travel
to East and West Berlin freely. After the wall they merely had to divide one line and
close portion of its length. Some of the Eastern lines that went north and south did
cross under underneath West Berlin. In these countries the Stationss were closed and
concrete neckbands were set in the roof and sides of the tunnel. The trains due to this
could merely suit through the tunnel with small room on top or either side. Escape in the
tunnels would be impossible a individual trying to stand by the wall in a tunnel
would be finally crushed.
Where there were abandoned Stationss, they put up armed guards. And on
station platforms on the East side there were invariably sauntering armed guards.
These guards were non similar guards along the wall. They were armed, and had Canis familiariss,
many were Soviet soldiers who had no 2nd idea to hit foremost and inquire
inquiries subsequently. .
Since the autumn of the wall Berlin has taken its topographic point among other German metropoliss
Frankfurt is the fiscal capital, Dusseldorf is the media capital, Hamburg is
the hi-tech capital, and Berlin stands as the cultural capital one time once more. ( 7 )
This fact tells that Berlin is back as a centre of German society. The capital of all of
German has been moved from Bonn, back to Berlin. The Berlin skyline is a huge
enlargement of new skyscrapers and new edifices. The German authorities hopes
the revival of Berlin will set them back on top as a universe leader. They besides
hope that by reconstructing their economic system and show metropolis they will hold a great say in
where the capital of the new European Union will be. Germany is one state
trusting to be the capital of the new brotherhood.
Decision
The Berlin Wall succeeded in making two different metropoliss, that lasted a
coevals. Berlin lies in the Northwest of Germany, It is divided by the Spree
River. It is 174 stat mis from Hamburg, and 318 stat mis from Frankfurt, and 243 stat mis
from Nuremberg. The metropolis was isolated by distance before the wall and today
remains isolated.
Berlin has a population of 3.5 million people. Access to the metropolis can be by
three ways ; Air, Train, and by route. Berlin has three airdromes, Tegel International is
the largest. The rail manner has two chief Stationss the Bahnof Zoo ( station ) and the
Hauptbahnof from the South. By route the autobahn has four paths into Berlin, these
roads still aren? T in good form.
Berlin is an stray metropolis within German society. The simple distance from
other major metropoliss attributes to its differing society. East Berlin, and West Berlin,
both developed otherwise. The two metropoliss, were two metropoliss. The Wall merely added to
this division. The Wall was non the exclusive ground for this split. The Alliess when they
divided up this one time great capital contributed more.
The Soviets in desiring to command their sector for a longer period, contributed
the most to the division of the metropolis of Berlin. The Wall merely gave there purposes, a
physical construction to function as a symbol. In November 1989, this symbol was
destroyed. The authorities, did make one intelligent thing upon rupturing down the wall
they sold many parts as keepsakes.
East & A ; West Berlin, became two really different metropoliss during the Wall
Generation. Now the German authorities with the coming European Union hope
their one time great capital will go the capital once more. East Berliners today have
created a motto, they put on bumper spines and hoardings. ? Give West Berliners
A Opportunity! ? This is a gesture that all of Germany should adhere to.
Bibliography
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( 2 ) Judt T Nineteen Eighty-nine: The End of Which European Era? . Berlin Ed Diddles
1994 V 123 n 3
( 3 ) Hankiss E European Paradigms: East and West, 1945-1994. Berlin Deadalus V 123 N
3 p. 166
( 4 ) Schlegel N. Berlin Rebuilds and Redefines. Europe May 1995 N 3 p. 31 ( 6 ) Screen
Narrative
( 5 ) Isaac J. the Meaning of 1989. Central and Eastern Europe: Additions and Losingss in the
Passage to Democracy, Social Research, V. 63 n 2 pg. 127
( 6 ) Yosefa L Inverting Images of the 40? s The Berlin Wall and Collective Amnesia.
Journal of Communication V. 45 Spring 95 pg. 101
( 7 ) Shpakov Y How the Berlin Wall Collapsed. Moscow News, Nov. II 1994 N 45 pg. 1
