The Berlin Wall

What Was the Berlin Wall?

The Berlin Wall was a barricade raised by the German Democratic Republic in 1961 all the way up to 1989.

The Berlin Wall divided Berlin into two sides east and west.

The east side of the wall was under the control of Soviet Russia while the west side was divided into 3 parts controlled by the US, Britain, and France.

Life Before the Wall

Shortly after the war had ended the living conditions in east and west Germany were vastly different.

From the help West Germany got from its allies it was able to set up a capitalist society which resulted in an economic boom known as the economic miracle.

On the opposing side of Germany the economic and overall situation was nearly opposite.

East Germany was pillaged by the Soviets and the supply's taken would be brought back to Soviet Russia.

East Germany became a communist society under the influence of the Soviets.

Why Was it Built?

In the late 50's people in East Germany were getting dissatisfied with the life style they lived.

The East Germans were poverty stricken and under the communist rule had less rights then those of the Western Germans.

Overtime people in East Germany took their opportunity and moved to West Germany and West Berlin.

The massive emigration resulted in 2.5 million people moving out of East Germany by 1961.

With the appalling amount of people leaving East Germany to go to West Germany the soviets were desperately in need of a way to decrease the amount of people leaving.

East Germanys biggest issue with the emigrations was that East Germans had easy access into and through West Berlin.

In desperation the Soviets decided to build a wall blocking transportation in and out of West Berlin to reduce the amount of people emigrating out.

Life During the Wall

Once the Berlin Wall was constructed no one was able to come and go from West Berlin without going through checkpoints and following and passing the procedures or else they would run the risk of being shot at and killed.

The Wall caused many families to become divided and unable to see each other.

It also caused employees in East Berlin to be unable to go to their jobs in West Berlin.

East Berlin

Life in East Berlin was rough, many people who already were going through the miserys of poverty now were also unable to visit family in West Berlin.

The people in East Berlin were restricted in the communist life style they lived in compared to their capitalist counter part West Berlin.

In East Berlin under the communist rule people could not own land, buy or sell any as well.

Other restrictions from the communist rule was that people would only be given what they needed not what they wanted and everyone would have to work together for the country as best as they can.

Those living in East Berlin also did not have the rights to freedom of speech, and were also under heavy surveillance.

Under the communist rule everyone had the same wages so their was no incentive to work hard or to try to be better at things.

West Berlin

Those living in West Berlin were under a capitalist rule.

They had the rights to own, buy, and sell land and propertys.

People had more privacy in Western Berlin as well as freedom of speech.

Those living in West Berlin were highly restricted of being able to leave and the only form of communication with the western world was through air traffic.

Anyone who tried to escape would be shot on sight no matter if you were a man, women, or children there was a zero tolerance policy.

Contrasting the Two

West Berlin

East Berlin

Life in East Berlin wasnt as safe with this side of the city under strict military control.

The economy was poor and most people wanted to leave and go to West Germany.

You had very little privacy and couldnt enter West Berlin.

Under the communist rule you couldnt own, sell, or buy property.

Overall West Berlin had more civil rights and was safer as long as you didnt try to escape.

The economy was much better in West Berlin.

You were not being motorized as much and had more privacy.

Most people were restricted from leaving and entering.