Why Was The Berlin Wall Important

604 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Social conquests of the berlin wall

The Berlin Wall was a large concrete structure that divided East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. It caused many problems between the two countries, with the East being government controlled and the West being separated from families. The tearing down of this wall was important because it signified the end of Communist rule, it brought East and West Berlin back together, and it showed the supremacy of the Capitalist government. If this wall wasn’t torn down, communism could’ve spread to larger parts of Europe. If it had spread, our society wouldn't have been like it is today.

The first reason why this was so important is because it ended Communism in Europe. Communism was the main ideological cause of death between 1900 and 2000. The 94 million people killed in China, the Soviet Union, North Korea, Afghanistan, and Eastern Europe easily beats the 28 million …show more content…

Emotion-wise, families were reunited and safe again. Many families were separated by the Wall and died trying to get over it. (Charles 1) At least 140 people died at the Wall. 101 East German fugitives, who were killed, died by accident, or committed suicide, 30 people from the East and West trying to escape, and eight East German border soldiers, who were killed by accident or intentionally while on duty. Physically, both sides being brought back together allowed travel, luxuries, and freedom for the entire city. People living in East Germany were unable to get luxuries such as coffee, certain food, and even freedom. East Germany lacked freedoms such as freedom of speech, the ability to vote, and being able to leave their side of the city (Christian 4). The West didn’t face these struggles, as they had a Capitalist government. It’s so important that this happened, giving children on the East their freedom to grow and live, and the West being comfortable and not receiving threats from Communist

Show More
Related

  • Leadership in the Uprising: Comparison of Different Uprising

    1461 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...e from any opposition, which crippled the country’s economy. The loss of life had profound effects on the aftermaths of the revolutions because it limited any vocal opposition of the Soviet Parties. It was not until the end of Soviet rule that citizens could try to reform the government.

    Read More

  • Berlin Wall Dbq

    1178 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the year 1961, the building of Berlin Wall called upon disasters in Germany. United States controlled the west of Berlin while German Democratic Republic held the East. Being stuck under the rule of day to day terror, people from East Berlin were making their way to the West Berlin. West Berlin was a safe spot and freedom checkpoint in the middle of terror. To stop the moving of East Berliners, the East German government decided to build a barrier that limited and halted the East Berliners from leaving. But the battle to control Berlin between, the United States and the Soviet Union, had been taking place since after the division of Germany. The German Democratic Republic wanted better control over its people to spread its communist ideas

    Read More

  • 1910-1920

    1537 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the primary major world events that took place in this decade was World War I. This began in 1914 when Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated. The U.S. didn’t get involved with this war, however, until 1917 and stayed involved until it’s ending in 1918. Increasing technology contributed heavily to the fatalities of this war with the inventions of deadly explosives, steel tanks, and poisonous gas (SF Timeline). This double front war for Germany was finally held at a standstill in November of 1918. A peace treaty was signed on June 28, 1919 at Versailles, France, ending the devastating four- year war in Europe. Another important world event that heavily affected the future of the world was The Bolshevik Revolution.

    Read More

  • Social, Political and Economic Effects of WWI

    2176 Words  | 5 Pages

    Death knocked down all barriers between people. All belligerents had enacted some form of selective service which levelled classes in many ways. Wartime scarcity made luxury an impossibility and unfavorable. Reflecting this, clothing became uniform and utilitarian. Europeans would never again dress in fancy, elaborate costumes.

    Read More

  • A Brief History of the Berlin Wall

    881 Words  | 2 Pages

    Walls are one of man’s oldest defenses; physical barriers that are erected to keep people out, or, in some cases, to keep them in. Walls are physical fortifications that create tension and distain among people on both sides. This is what the Berlin Wall, or der Mauer in German, was; a physical barrier created in Berlin, Germany during the Cold War. It was created by the East Germans in an attempt to stop East German citizens from immigrating to Western Germany. However, the Berlin wall was a crude attempt to separate the political and social variances in Germany during the Cold War, because, while it created a physical barrier, it still was unable separate people in an ethic manor.

    Read More

  • The Berlin Wall and The Holocaust

    1199 Words  | 3 Pages

    To conclude both the Berlin Wall and the Holocaust were similar in many ways. In both they were fighting for freedom. As for the soldiers all they wanted was an opportunity to kill with no regrets but just orders from their leaders. For everyone today is still talking and researching about the history made in the past and talking about the impacts that they both made.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Fall Of The Berlin Wall

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    The end of World War II was the beginning of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. The Soviet Union had control over East Berlin, which was governed by a communist government and the United States had control over West Berlin, which was regulated by a democratic government. Both countries wanted full control over Berlin, so the Soviet Union set up a blockade on the West but was unsuccessful. The Berlin Wall was then built to stabilize the economy of East Berlin, which meant that fewer people could escape the east to live in the west. In the article “The fall of the Berlin Wall: what it meant to be there,” by Timothy Garton Ash, he highlights the feelings of no longer having a “iron curtain” segregating both sides of Berlin.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Berlin Wall

    564 Words  | 2 Pages

    Second of all the Berlin Wall was built was because of before it all started East Germany’s leader Erich Honecker demand the wall to be built because of many events happen. Also is because Erich Honecker wanted to cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and East B...

    Read More

  • Significance Of The Berlin Wall

    2168 Words  | 5 Pages

    In conclusion Berlin Wall was an important milestone in the growth of the Cold War. It was the expansion that represented the thinking of a determined Communist system. Western Capitalism, which was more powerful, eventually defeated the system. The massive wall that did so much harm to a country was finally destroyed, and the people of Germany could now live the way they all wanted to live. They could live the life of freedom. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall East Germany has went through a lot of changes, and it still is not easy for all of the people in East Germany. But no matter how hard it is for the people of East Germany now, it is better than being alone and separated from their families, friends and rest of Europe.

    Read More

  • Social Effects of the Berlin Wall

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    Outline THESIS: From research and historical analysts, we can conclude that in many cases the people of Germany have been affected socially and economically by the building and construction of the Berlin Wall. & nbsp ; & nbsp ; & nbsp ; & nbsp ; & nbsp ; I. Background        A. Beginning construction        B. Closing borders        C. Pre-Berlin Wall     II. History        A. Cold War        B. World War II        C. Economy      III. Post- Berlin Wall effects       A. Economic examples        B. Political examples & nbsp;& nbsp;& nbsp;& nbsp;& nbsp;Conclusion In the last fifty years the German Democratic Republic has been a nonstop changing country.

    Read More

  • Myth Of German Reunification

    1424 Words  | 3 Pages

    The German Reunification failed in its attempt to bring the two Germanys together after being separated for nearly 45 years. The myriad of negative ramifications brought about by the Reunification only strengthened the divide between the East and West Germans. The devaluation of the East German mark and depopulation of East German cities, along with unemployment and poor living conditions, instigated discontent among the East Germans. West Germany’s “taking over” of East Germany in the act of Reunification induced a lopsided economy with its Eastern half still trying to catch up to its Western half, establishing the myth of German Reunification.

    Read More

  • History Of The Berlin Wall

    551 Words  | 2 Pages

    Each section was controlled by a different country; United States, France, Britain, and the Soviet Union. The Capital Berlin, being inside the Soviet controlled East Germany, was also divided into two sections, East and West Berlin. West Berlin was controlled by the United States and East Berlin was controlled by the Soviet Union. Starting on August 13 1961, Berliners woke up to a barrier separating the east from the west. East Germans had closed off the border with barbwire and guards. Many families were separated. Many jobs were lost. Two days after the border had been closed off, a wall had begun to get built.

    Read More

  • Importance Of The Berlin Wall

    1425 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 during the Cold War between Soviet Russia and the United States. The wall was built to separate Soviet controlled East Berlin from US controlled West Berlin. It soon became a physical barrier that symbolized the differing political and social ideologies of the two superpowers. The Berlin wall stood for 28 years separating a city into two very different sections with differing governments, economies and social organization. The importance of Berlin in International politics stemmed from Germany’s role in World War II. After WWII ended, Berlin was divided between the victors, France, England, the US and the USSR. The area surrounding Berlin was under Soviet control making West Berlin a strange island of democracy,

    Read More

  • The Failure of The Berlin Blockade

    2167 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Berlin Blockade What were the main factors that ultimately led to the failure of the Berlin Blockade? Word Count: 1957. TABLE OF CONTENTS A. Plan of the investigation. 3 B. Summary of Evidence. 4 C. Evaluation of Sources............................. 6 D. Analysis.................................. 8 E. Conclusion.

    Read More

  • Collapse Of The Berlin Wall Essay

    1188 Words  | 3 Pages

    The collapse of the Berlin Wall changed Western Europe as we know it today. The Iron Curtain, which had split Europe, had ascended and the once divided Germans were reunited under one common nation. The causal factors which resulted in the fall of the Berlin Wall were internal — communism imploded upon itself—. Gorbachev attempted to reform communism through Glasnost and Perestroika, which were supposed to incorporate economic reforms and transparency, however, history illustrates that increased liberty is incompatible with communism. Dr. Schmidtke argued that structural deficiencies led along with poor economic growth which led to the collapse of communism in Europe, and consequently the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

    Read More

More about Why Was The Berlin Wall Important

Open Document