The Wall
The Berlin Wall, built in 1961, stood for 28 years and served as a popular symbol of the Cold War, and the division between Eastern Communism and Western Democracy. It ran between the occupied sectors of East and West Berlin, and stretched for 43 kilometres. Although it was built for specific purposes concerning Berlin (learn more here- link to Berlin Crisis page) it came to represent “the great divide between the capitalist democratic west and the Soviet Union and its allies amongst the Communist bloc of nations” (Chicco M, Schnabel, O. online). The Berlin Wall “became a symbol of division- the division of Germany, the Division of Europe, the division of Communist East and democratic West.” (Walsh, B. 1996. pg. 317) Walsh endorses Chicco and Schnabel’s notion that the wall represented the ideological division between the two powers in several contexts.
The Soviet and American perspectives of the Berlin Wall were vastly different and give insight into the beliefs of each power and the outlook on its symbolism as the division of Communism and Capitalism; Soviet leader, Khrushchev presents a positive justification of the wall in his memoir -
“The economy of the GDR immediately began to improve after the establishment of border control. [It] had a very positive effect on the consciousness of the people. It strengthened them and reminded them that the task of building Socialism was a challenge of solid and lasting importance, dwarfing the temporary phenomenon of West German propaganda which had been used to tempt the East Germans over to the side of capitalism. The establishment of border control restored order and discipline in the East Germans’ lives (and the Germans have always appreciated discipline).” (Khrushchev cited in Chicco, M. Schnabel, O. online)
In comparison, a speech ("Ich bin win Berliner") by American President Kennedy in 1963 paints a negative portrait of the Berlin Wall -
“While the wall is the most obvious and vivid demonstration of the failures of the Communist system, for all the world to see, we take no satisfaction in it. For it is, as your Mayor has said, an offense not only against history but an offense against humanity, separating families, dividing husbands and wives and brothers and sisters, and dividing a people who wish to be joined together.” (Kennedy, June 1963 cited in the Miller Center, 2015)
Kennedy’s statement also supports the popular, Capitalist belief that Berlin “represented the great divide between the capitalist-democratic west and the Soviet Union and it’s allies amongst the Communist bloc of nations” (Chicco, M. Schnabel, O. online). “Once the Wall was built the cultural gap between East Germany and West Germany broadened” (Honseler, E. et al. 2009), however, events took place and policies were devised which somewhat overcame this distinct division to increase trade and contact between East and West Germany. Learn more about policies which overcame the division of the Berlin Wall here.
The Berlin Wall was not only important in dividing the Western Capitalist and Eastern Communist blocs, it played a fundamental role in overcoming this segregation. Read more about the importance of the Berlin Wall at the end of the Cold War here.
The Soviet and American perspectives of the Berlin Wall were vastly different and give insight into the beliefs of each power and the outlook on its symbolism as the division of Communism and Capitalism; Soviet leader, Khrushchev presents a positive justification of the wall in his memoir -
“The economy of the GDR immediately began to improve after the establishment of border control. [It] had a very positive effect on the consciousness of the people. It strengthened them and reminded them that the task of building Socialism was a challenge of solid and lasting importance, dwarfing the temporary phenomenon of West German propaganda which had been used to tempt the East Germans over to the side of capitalism. The establishment of border control restored order and discipline in the East Germans’ lives (and the Germans have always appreciated discipline).” (Khrushchev cited in Chicco, M. Schnabel, O. online)
In comparison, a speech ("Ich bin win Berliner") by American President Kennedy in 1963 paints a negative portrait of the Berlin Wall -
“While the wall is the most obvious and vivid demonstration of the failures of the Communist system, for all the world to see, we take no satisfaction in it. For it is, as your Mayor has said, an offense not only against history but an offense against humanity, separating families, dividing husbands and wives and brothers and sisters, and dividing a people who wish to be joined together.” (Kennedy, June 1963 cited in the Miller Center, 2015)
Kennedy’s statement also supports the popular, Capitalist belief that Berlin “represented the great divide between the capitalist-democratic west and the Soviet Union and it’s allies amongst the Communist bloc of nations” (Chicco, M. Schnabel, O. online). “Once the Wall was built the cultural gap between East Germany and West Germany broadened” (Honseler, E. et al. 2009), however, events took place and policies were devised which somewhat overcame this distinct division to increase trade and contact between East and West Germany. Learn more about policies which overcame the division of the Berlin Wall here.
The Berlin Wall was not only important in dividing the Western Capitalist and Eastern Communist blocs, it played a fundamental role in overcoming this segregation. Read more about the importance of the Berlin Wall at the end of the Cold War here.