On November 9th, 1989, there was a party going on in Berlin. After nearly thirty years, the symbol of oppression in Europe was finally brought down: The Berlin Wall. Throngs of people crowded the wall, hacking at it with hammers, chisels, and all the bitterness of 28 years of suffering. Families laughed, cried, and hugged as they were reunited. For the first time in almost three decades, Germany was one nation.
Before the significance of the fall of the wall can be understood, one must look back into Europe’s history. After being defeated by the Allies in WWII, Germany was a weak and divided nation. The country was split up into four sectors each ruled by a different victor; there was an American, British, French, and Soviet sector. Berlin, Germany’s capital, was also split up into sectors. Eventually, the United States, British, and French sectors joined together to form West Germany, a democratic nation. Suddenly, the friendly relationship between the Soviet Union and the rest of the Allies became a competition. East Berliners began a “mass exodus” out of East Germany to West Germany; the Soviets had already lost 2.1 million citizens by 1961. The Soviets became more aggressive and protective of their territories, and they needed to find a way to stop this massive immigration. The Berlin Wall was born.
In the dark of night on August 13th, 1961, a wall was swiftly built between East and West Berlin. The wall was a surprise to everyone who woke up the next morning. The Berliners discovered that they were no longer free to travel where they pleased; in fact, they couldn’t even call their friends living on the other side of the wall on the telephone. All the telephone wires had been cut. The wall was built in many stages; at first, it was simply a barbed wire fence with concrete posts. Over the next three decades it transformed into an impermeable concrete structure guarded heavily by soldiers and attack dogs. The guards shot anyone trying to cross the wall on sight, so most attempts to cross were fatal. The wall created not only a physical barrier, but an emotional barrier between families and friends. Many East Berliners were separated from their loved ones, and they lost their jobs that were in West Berlin. When the wall was complete, it spanned over 100 miles, completely isolating East Berlin from the rest of the world.
Germany existed as a divided nation for 28 years. East Germany suffered greatly under Soviet rule; their economy was ruined, and poverty struck. But just when it seemed that all hope was lost, word spread that the wall would be opened to allow travel between East and West Germany. East Berliners decided that they couldn’t wait any longer, and on November 9th, 1989, they took matters into their own hands. Berliners from both sides of the wall used chisels and other utensils to chip away at the wall, the icon of their oppression. The guards watched silently as the wall came tumbling down, piece by piece. People fled over the wall, and reunited with loved ones that were lost for almost thirty years. It was a night that would live in infamy in the hearts and minds of every German citizen.
The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of the Cold War, and the deterioration of the Soviet Union. Germany was reunified on October 3rd, 1990 as a single democratic nation. Democracy had won its battle.
Before the significance of the fall of the wall can be understood, one must look back into Europe’s history. After being defeated by the Allies in WWII, Germany was a weak and divided nation. The country was split up into four sectors each ruled by a different victor; there was an American, British, French, and Soviet sector. Berlin, Germany’s capital, was also split up into sectors. Eventually, the United States, British, and French sectors joined together to form West Germany, a democratic nation. Suddenly, the friendly relationship between the Soviet Union and the rest of the Allies became a competition. East Berliners began a “mass exodus” out of East Germany to West Germany; the Soviets had already lost 2.1 million citizens by 1961. The Soviets became more aggressive and protective of their territories, and they needed to find a way to stop this massive immigration. The Berlin Wall was born.
In the dark of night on August 13th, 1961, a wall was swiftly built between East and West Berlin. The wall was a surprise to everyone who woke up the next morning. The Berliners discovered that they were no longer free to travel where they pleased; in fact, they couldn’t even call their friends living on the other side of the wall on the telephone. All the telephone wires had been cut. The wall was built in many stages; at first, it was simply a barbed wire fence with concrete posts. Over the next three decades it transformed into an impermeable concrete structure guarded heavily by soldiers and attack dogs. The guards shot anyone trying to cross the wall on sight, so most attempts to cross were fatal. The wall created not only a physical barrier, but an emotional barrier between families and friends. Many East Berliners were separated from their loved ones, and they lost their jobs that were in West Berlin. When the wall was complete, it spanned over 100 miles, completely isolating East Berlin from the rest of the world.
Germany existed as a divided nation for 28 years. East Germany suffered greatly under Soviet rule; their economy was ruined, and poverty struck. But just when it seemed that all hope was lost, word spread that the wall would be opened to allow travel between East and West Germany. East Berliners decided that they couldn’t wait any longer, and on November 9th, 1989, they took matters into their own hands. Berliners from both sides of the wall used chisels and other utensils to chip away at the wall, the icon of their oppression. The guards watched silently as the wall came tumbling down, piece by piece. People fled over the wall, and reunited with loved ones that were lost for almost thirty years. It was a night that would live in infamy in the hearts and minds of every German citizen.
The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of the Cold War, and the deterioration of the Soviet Union. Germany was reunified on October 3rd, 1990 as a single democratic nation. Democracy had won its battle.
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