Significance of the Berlin Wall
The wall of Berlin resulted from the stark contrasts between the German Democratic Republic (GDR) or East Germany and West Berlin. After the Second World War, the Soviet Union controlled a huge chunk of East Berlin whereas France, Britain, and American controlled cumulatively what comprised West Berlin. East Berlin was governed under communism and controlled by the Soviet Union. West Berlin, on the other hand, had more freedoms, with capitalism being the nature of governance (History). This influenced the emigration of many people from GDR to West Berlin. The continued emigration of people from GDR to West Berlin raised the alarm on the practicality of the communism method of governance that heavily relied on its labor force (Taylor). The Soviet Union built a Wall to eliminate emigration from GDR to West Berlin, in a bid to retain its pool of labor force. The was erected overnight using poles and barbed wires and was reconstructed with concrete with trenches and land mines set to discourage movement of vehicles into the GDR. The wall symbolized oppression for the people of East Germany (Taylor).
The Berlin Wall illustrated the differences between the communists and democrats. Communists ruled the East with a majority of the area under the control of the Soviet Union, whereas the West of Berlin was under the control of America, France, and Britain (Brager). The Wall also depicted the internal conflict in Germany; the contrast between what was regarded as free and what was democratic. The Wall signified a crucial point of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and the United States of America with the production of nuclear weapons being at the heart of this conversation. Dividing Germany into the two major blocs with different systems of governance put to the test the two ideologies of administration; capitalism and communism. Majority of the people preferred capitalism to communism with large population migration to Western Berlin. Some historians argue that the Berlin Wall improved diplomatic relations between the USA and USSR (Taylor). They argue segregation of the two sides gave the Americans ample time to flash out remaining Nazi supporters in West Germany and protect westerners in both Berlin and West Germany. The Fall of the Berlin Wall showed that capitalism was more supreme than communism. It fostered capitalism be adopted as the modern style of administration with the belief that it promoted equality among citizens (Brager). The Fall of the Berlin Wall also propagated a fallout of many communist countries under the Soviet Union.
The Berlin Wall signified oppression. It demarcated two regions with contrast ways of administration. Citizens in one region have the freedom to move freely and interact with people from neighboring countries, whereas the movement of people in the other region was curtailed and their freedoms limited by the governing authority. People in East Germany did not have the luxury of enjoying a cup of coffee (Brager). Oppression is amplified when records of the death of people trying to climb over the wall just to escape the rule of law on the east side of Berlin. The Wall symbolized a loss in basic freedoms and rights. The government in East Berlin controlled people with their economic activities being pre-determined by the government. The Soviet Union went to the extent of killing its citizens in a bid to retain the human resource (Taylor). Majority of the people preferred capitalism to communism since the governing class did not limit people’s choices. The Wall also indicated how different set of rules would influence the different lives of people living in certain prescribed regions differently. The fall of the Wall symbolizes how the will of the majority always prevails with the consistent pursuit of what is just (History). The fall of the Wall gave people living in the GDR a choice of opting for a capitalist kind of governance as opposed to communist leadership.
In summary, it is evident that the construction of the Berlin Wall influenced the lives of the people living on either side of the wall. The lives of people living on the two sides of the wall drew parallels. Communism advocated for united communal ownership of property and communal application of labor. Due to this, it led to a curtailed movement of people with a fear of losing the labor force to the westerners (History). Capitalism advocated for individualism and the freedom to move freely and mingle with people from other states. The Israeli West Bank Barrier separating Israel and Palestine draws comparisons to the Berlin Wall. They are both heavily guarded and limited the movement of people to and from the two regions (Taylor). The separation for the Israeli West Banker arises from different religions that have cultivated conflict between the two countries. Palestine’s feel oppressed by Israelites by limiting their access to Jerusalem, which is their central place of worship. Israel, like West Berlin, enjoys support from the westerners with the United States being their biggest supporter. The wall symbolizes a state of oppression for the Palestine’s who have suffered most since the wall was erected. Several people have died trying to climb over the wall, similar to the wall of Berlin.
Works Cited
Brager, Bruce L. “Symbolism of the Berlin Wall during the Cold War.” Warfare History Network 1 November 2018.
History. Berlin Wall. 6 June 2019. 20 June 2019. <https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall>.
Taylor, Frederick. “The Berlin Wall: A Secret History.” History Today 57.2 (2007).