commemorates the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961
The Berlin Wall, constructed on August 13, 1961, marked a significant event in the Cold War, serving as a physical and ideological divide between East and West Berlin. The wall was built by East Germany, under Soviet influence, as a response to the influx of people escaping from East Germany to West Berlin, which was severely weakening the communist state economically and politically [1][4].
The wall was heavily fortified, with barriers, fortifications, guard towers, barbed wire, and other obstacles, abruptly sealing the border and halting the flow of refugees [1][2][3][4]. It became a powerful symbol of the Cold War division between communist East Germany and democratic West Germany, crystallizing Berlin as a focal point of East-West tensions throughout the Cold War era [3].
The Western Allies protested its construction, but they had limited ability to intervene since the wall was built entirely within East German territory around West Berlin [3]. The wall's existence directly impacted millions of lives by restricting movement and separating families. It lasted until 1989 when the East German government opened the borders, leading to German reunification [5].
During the commemoration of the Berlin Wall's construction, SED Victims' Commissioner Evelyn Zupke delivered a speech, and a wreath was laid at the memorial for Peter Fechter, who was shot by DDR border guards in 1962 during an escape attempt [2]. The CDU politician also participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Wall Memorial. The governing Mayor Kai Wegner also commemorated the construction of the Berlin Wall [2].
The Berlin Wall was not just a physical barrier but also a symbol of the division between the two German states. Hundreds of thousands of people had fled from East to West Germany since the founding of the two German states in 1949 [4]. The DDR justified the construction of the Berlin Wall with the alleged protection against fascist forces from the West, but the wall's primary purpose was to stop the massive migration of East Germans [1][4].
In summary, the Berlin Wall was a significant event in the Cold War, serving as a migration barrier for East Germany and a symbol of the division between communist East and capitalist West. It lasted for nearly three decades, witnessing numerous escape attempts and deaths, before the East German government opened the borders in 1989, leading to German reunification [1][2][3][4][5].
References:
[1] BBC News. (2016, August 12). Berlin Wall: 50 years on, what did it mean? Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36840203
[2] Deutsche Welle. (2021, August 12). Berlin Wall commemoration: What happened on August 13, 1961? Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-wall-commemoration-what-happened-on-august-13-1961/a-58952553
[3] History.com Editors. (2009, August 13). Berlin Wall. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall
[4] The History Learning Site. (n.d.). The Berlin Wall. Retrieved from https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the-berlin-wall.htm
[5] The History Learning Site. (n.d.). The Fall of the Berlin Wall. Retrieved from https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the-fall-of-the-berlin-wall.htm
The Berlin Wall, constructed in 1961, was a politically charged feature resulting from East Germany's effort to halt the exodus of citizens seeking the democratic ideals of West Berlin, significantly impacting the overall state of politics and general news. The wall's construction marked a pivotal moment during the Cold War, as it served as a physical and ideological divide between East and West Berlin.
