How was the Berlin Wall the Defining Symbol of the Cold War?
The Berlin Wall was the defining symbol of the Cold War because it physically and ideologically divided East and West Berlin. During the war, East Berlin and East Germany were controlled by the Soviet Union and its communist regime, whereas West Berlin was occupied and controlled by the United States, Great Britain, and France, functioning as a democratic and capitalist society. From 1961 to 1989, the 96-mile border stood as a physical barrier between Communism and Capitalism, along with Democracy and Dictatorship.
Referred to as Antifaschistischer Schutzwall or Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart by the East German Authorities, the Berlin Wall was a multifaceted tool.
Officially, in state propaganda, it served to protect socialism from the corrupting influence of the Capitalist West, unofficially as a means to keep East Germans from fleeing to the West.
In East Germany, political officials feared that smuggling and espionage from West Berlin would destabilize its grip on power.
By 1961, 2.5 million East Germans had fled to the West, predominantly coming from educated or professional backgrounds.
This led to a brain drain, with the next generation of East German talent unwilling to remain and maintain the East German Economy.
General Secretary Walter Ulbricht feared that without some measure to plug this population flight, East Germany might simply cease to exist.
The wall came up essentially overnight, cutting through subways, houses, and even churches. Families were separated, workers found themselves unable to access their place of work and schools, and hospitals were split.
East Germans were imprisoned by their own state, and any cultural or social ties to the West were closely monitored by the State secret police, the Ministerium für Staatssicherheit, or simply the Stasi.
Despite the risks from armed guards, who had permission to shoot to kill trespassers, around 5,000 East Germans were able to cross the Berlin Wall, though around 140 were killed trying to cross, with the number rising to around 1,000 along the entire East-West German border.
Just as quickly as the Berlin Wall went up on August 13, 1961, it eventually came crashing down.
A misconstrued Government press release in 1989 implied that travel between East and West was sanctioned, and crowds quickly overwhelmed the border guards, who agreed to open the gates on November 9.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) How long did the Berlin Wall stand for?
The Berlin Wall divided the city for 28 years, starting in 1961, until it fell on November 9, 1989.
Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/cold-war/germany/berlin-wall
2) Why was the Berlin Wall built?
The Berlin Wall was built to stop the massive daily brain drain and defection of skilled East German professionals and citizens escaping communist rule for the West.
Source: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/cold-war/germany/berlin-wall
3) How many people died trying to cross the Berlin Wall?
140 people died trying to cross the border between 1961 and 1989.
Why it matters
The Berlin Wall was arguably the most iconic symbol of the Cold War, and its fall was a key indicator that the end of Communism in Europe was just around the corner.