The Berlin Wall – Symbol of Cold War

The Berlin Wall was a 4.2 meter high concrete wall that separated West Berlin from East Berlin for a long 28 years. It was the most visible and notable manifestation of the Iron Curtain. The wall divided the whole of Germany into two parts from 1961 to 1989. The wall was built during the Cold War to safeguard the population of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from West Berlin occupied by the Western Allies. The Cold War was the “War of Ideologies” between the United States of America and the USSR.

The war is also considered a “Symbol of Division” because the “Berlin Wall” was the physical manifestation of this war. The Berlin Wall divided Berlin and Germany and, gradually the whole world both physically and ideologically. The Fall Of the Berlin Wall was the most significant moment in Europe’s history.

In this article today, we will discuss the Berlin Wall and the Cold War in detail. Then we will try to find the answer to why the Cold War Is Considered a Symbol of Division and its relations with the Berlin Wall.

The Berlin Wall (1961-1989) – Overview

The Berlin Wall was the most visible and notable manifestation of the Iron Curtain. It was a political and ideological barrier imposed by the USSR to isolate themselves and their satellite states from the non-Soviet-controlled areas. It is a metaphor that distinguishes the Warsaw Pact states and other countries. Here is a detailed overview of the Berlin Wall.

The Berlin Wall (1961-1989)
Construction Date	August 13th, 1961
Fall Date	November 9th, 1989
Purpose	Divided East and West Berlin both physically and ideologically during the Cold War. Later whole Germany and World.
Length	96 Miles
Height	4.2 Meters
Structure	Concrete wall with barbed wire and guarded by watchtowers.
Major Purpose	To safeguard the population of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from West Berlin occupied by the Western Allies.
Checkpoint Charlie	Famous crossing point between East and West Berlin.
Deaths at the Wall	140 People (Approx.)
Fall of the Wall	Resulted from changes in Eastern Europe, Gorbachev’s policies, and population pressure.
Brandenburg Gate	Symbolic monument located in Berlin. It serves as a backdrop to key events.
Reunification of Germany	Officially on October 3rd, 1990
Legacy	Symbol of the Cold War’s division and reunification of Germany.
Memorial Sites	Berlin Wall Memorial, East Side Gallery, Checkpoint Charlie Museum.

The Fall Of Berlin Wall – 1989

The Fall Of the Berlin Wall was the most significant moment in Europe’s history and Cold War. The wall was built to safeguard the population of the Western Allies controlled West Berlin from the USSR-controlled East Berlin. On 9th November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell during a press conference in East Berlin. The Fall Of the Berlin Wall not only ended the Iron Curtain but also it was the beginning of the fall of communism in East and Central Europe. Here are some major events related to the Fall Of the Berlin Wall as mentioned below.

The Fall Of Berlin Wall – 1989 – Major Events
1961	Construction of the Berlin Wall Started.
1963	USA President John F. Kennedy visits West Berlin. He delivered his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech.
1971	Four-power agreement signed between Britain, France, Italy, and Germany.
	It allows the movement between East and West Berlin for the citizens.
1975	Helsinki Accords paid attention to human rights.
	It indirectly affected the situation in East Germany.
1987	USA President Ronald Reagan delivers the famous speech and told “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
	The conference took place in West Berlin.
1989	Hungary opened its border with Austria.
	It lead to a mass emigration from East Germany.
	East Germany opens its borders on November 9th.
	Günter Schabowski of East Germany’s ruling Socialist Unity Party, announced that the citizens of the GDR could cross the border whenever they wanted.
	That lead to the fall of the Berlin Wall and USSR desolved.
1990	Formal reunification of East and West Germany.

Relation Between Cold War and Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was the physical manifestation and symbol of the Cold War. In a broader view, it narrates the geopolitical tensions and ideological conflict during the Cold War. The Cold War caused political tension and military rivalry between the United States and its NATO allies on one side and the Soviet Union and its allies. The Cold War roughly started at the end of World War II and sustained until the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

The Berlin Wall was officially called as the “Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart” by German Democratic Republic (GDR) authorities. It indicates that the NATO countries and West Germany were “fascists”. The West Berlin city government called it the “Wall of Shame” which was a restriction on freedom of movement.

Events Lead To The Fall Of Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was a physical barrier that encapsulated both the ideological struggle and geopolitical tensions that arose during the Cold War. The construction of the wall and its demolition reflected the evolving dynamics between the two superpowers and their allies. Here are some major events that led it to its fall.

• In the middle of the 80s, the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev started his policies of openness and restructuring.
• This political initiative took away the threat of Soviet intervention in other socialist countries.
• The Polish communist regime collapsed when they signed an agreement with the Solidarity movement.
• These incidents paved the way for free elections in East Germany.
• In 1989, the Polish people elected their first non-communist leader.
• At this time, Hungary’s soldiers opened its borders with Austria.
• So many East Germans went to Austria on holiday trips by crossing Hungary.
• Around two million people from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania formed a human chain against Soviet rule in August.
• In October, during a visit to East Berlin, Gorbachev advised the East German leader not to delay reforms.
• After a long mass protest, the East German government declared that citizens were free to go the West Germany.

Consequences Of The Fall of Berlin Wall

The Consequences of the Fall of Berlin Wall was long-lasting in the Europe’s history. Here are some major points related to this as mentioned below.

• The Fall of the Berlin Wall led to further changes in so many socialist countries.
• It was the first step towards the unification of Germany.
• Finally, the collapse of the Berlin Wall led to the fall of the USSR itself in 1991.
• The incident marked the end of Soviet-supported authoritarians in Eastern Europe.
• As an immediate effect, about 30 countries of Central-Eastern Europe started their own political and economic transition. It leads them toward democracy and the market economy.
• The incident gave birth to a liberal, capitalist, and democratic system.
• Some of these European countries later become the members of European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
• Most of the EU citizens started enjoying higher living standards and broader political and personal rights.

Germany Reunification In 1990

After the Fall of The Berlin Wall, the officials started to take so many initiatives to perform the reunification of Germany. Here are some major steps as mentioned below.

• Diplomatic talks started after the fall of the Berlin Wall. East and West German officials, the U.S., the Soviet Union, and Western allies agreed on the reunification of Germany.
• “Two Plus Four” talks included both Germany and the four Allied powers. That aimed to finalize the reunification terms for Germany.
• The Treaty on the Final Settlement was signed on September 12th, 1990. This recognized the sovereign which unified Germany.
• October 3rd, 1990 was celebrated as the German Unity Day.
• Unified Germany adopted a democratic and capitalist system.
• As per the treaty, it also merged West Germany’s economic and political models with the East.
• The German Democratic Republic (GDR) dissolved after the reunification.
• Five new states joined the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). New states included Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. Berlin also became one entity and the capital of Germany.

How East Berlin Was Protected From West Berlin?

The division of Berlin led to the construction of the Berlin Wall. The wall was built during the Cold War to safeguard the population of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from West Berlin occupied by the Western Allies. Here are key aspects of how East Berlin was protected from West Berlin during this period:

• The Berlin Wall was built almost overnight by the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
• With the barbed wire they initially sealed the border of East and West Berlin. It was later replaced by concrete walls and fences.
• Guard towers had armed border guards with orders to shoot those trying to escape.
• The space between walls became a guarded area with obstacles to stop escape attempts.
• Trenches were made to stop vehicles from crossing the wall.
• Checkpoint Charlie, controlled by American and Soviet military, was for diplomats and foreigners.
• East German guards had shoot-to-kill orders for illegal crossings.
• Electronic surveillance used alarms and sensors to detect breaches.

The Berlin Wall Falls and USSR Dissolves

The fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 were the major moments in European history. These incidents marked the end of the Cold War era. These incidents are the symbols and denote the significant shift in the geopolitical landscape. East Germany allowed its citizens to freely enter into West Germany which ended the ideological struggle and geopolitical tensions that arose during the Cold War. These events were a chain reaction that gradually led to the reunification of Germany in 1990. Simultaneously, the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the communist superpower. It was the conclusion of decades of ideological and political rivalry between two superpowers. The collapse of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the USSR paved the way for new political configurations and challenges in the post-Cold War era.

Role of NATO After The Disintegration Of USSR

The fall of the Berlin wall also a major cause of collapse of the USSR. This incident conludes the Cold War. Even in that circumstances NATO played a major role. NATO justified and adapted itself so many new challenges after post era of Cold War. Many members of the Warsaw Pact became its members later. But now when the two super powers become threatening each other again, NATO has found it’s significance and purpose to maintaining peace here. At the recent NATO summit, it declared that “Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine have fundamentally challenged our vision of a Europe whole, free, and at peace.” It also declared that the NATO “remains an essential source of stability in this unpredictable world”. Even 25 years after of the fall communism, NATO is still active even to maintain the European security.

Cold War – Symbol of Division

The Cold War was a geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. The term “Cold War” was a state of conflict between these superpowers that was primarily pursued through economic and political actions. The propaganda, acts of espionage, and proxy wars played a major role in this ideological war. The name “Cold War” was given by George Orwell in an article written in 1945.

Read More: Cold War – Causes and Impact

Cold War – Overview
Period	1945 – 1991
Main Participants	United States (and NATO allies) vs. Soviet Union (and Warsaw Pact).
Ideological Conflict	Capitalism (U.S.) vs. Communism (U.S.S.R.).
Trigger Events	End of World War II, ideological differences, Iron Curtain.
Major Conflicts	Korean War (1950-1953), Vietnam War (1955-1975), Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).
Arms Race	Nuclear weapons development, space race.
Proxy Wars	Conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan.
Détente Period	1970s – Attempts at easing tensions between superpowers.
Reagan Era	1980s – U.S. military buildup, “Star Wars” missile defense.
Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989	Symbolic end of the Cold War.
Dissolution of USSR	1991 – Official end of the Cold War.

Conclusion

The Berlin Wall was the most visible and notable manifestation of the Iron Curtain. It was a political and ideological barrier imposed by the USSR to isolate themselves and their satellite states from the non-Soviet-controlled areas. The eastern part of Germany went to the Soviet Union, while the western part of the country went to the United States, Great Britain and France. The Berlin Wall divided Berlin and Germany and, gradually the whole world both physically and ideologically. The Fall Of the Berlin Wall was the most significant moment in Europe’s history. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 were the major moments in European history. These incidents marked the end of the Cold War era. These incidents are the symbols and denote the significant shift in the geopolitical landscape. Simultaneously, the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the communist superpower. It was the conclusion of decades of ideological and political rivalry between two superpowers.

Read More:

Aftermath of World War 2

Europe after World War II

Collapse of the Soviet Union

Korean War – History, Causes, & Timeline

FAQs – The Berlin Wall – Cold War Symbol of Division

Who built the Berlin Wall and why?

The wall was built during the Cold War to safeguard the population of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) from West Berlin occupied by the Western Allies.

Why did the Wall fall in Berlin?

On 9th November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell during a press conference in East Berlin. The Fall Of the Berlin Wall not only ended the Iron Curtain but also it was the beginning of the fall of communism in East and Central Europe.

Did the Berlin Wall fall in 1989 or 1991?

The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9th, 1989, during the Peaceful Revolution. It marked the destruction of the Berlin Wall and the figurative Iron Curtain.

Is the Berlin Wall still up?

For more than 28 years, the Wall divided East and West Berlin. Today, almost nothing is left of it.

What is the Cold War and why?

The Cold War was a geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. The term “Cold War” was a state of conflict between these superpowers that was primarily pursued through economic and political actions.

Why is Cold War so called?

The term “Cold War” was a state of conflict between these superpowers that was primarily pursued through economic and political actions. The propaganda, acts of espionage, and proxy wars played a major role in this ideological war. The name “Cold War” was given by George Orwell in an article written in 1945.

How the Cold War ended?

Between 1989 and 1990, the Berlin Wall demolished, borders opened, and free elections ousted Communist regimes everywhere in eastern Europe. In late 1991 the Soviet Union itself dissolved into its component republics.

How long did the Cold War last?

The Cold War lasted about 45 years. It was a geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.