THE Cold War, despite its name, never resulted in a direct conflict between its main adversaries: USA and USSR. It was much more a process of constant tension between the two countries than an open conflict, mainly due to the large nuclear arsenal of their armies. One of the main symbols of the Cold War was, without a doubt, the Berlin Wall, built in the German city from August 13, 1961.
The wall divided the city of Berlin into two areas: East Berlin and West Berlin. East Berlin was the capital of German Democratic Republic (RDA), also known as Oriental Germany, being under the influence of the USSR. West Berlin was controlled by the Federal Republic of Germany (RFA), or ocidental Germany, whose capital was the city of Bonn and was in the US sphere of influence.
The system of barriers in the Berlin border area, where the wall stood, was intended to prevent the escape of citizens from the east to the west of the city. After the city was divided into the two areas, about two million people left the eastern side. The reason for the flight was the population's discontent with the economic and social results of the implementation of Soviet-style economic planning carried out in East Germany after World War II World.
Walter Ulbricht, head of the GDR and the Communist Party, despite claims to the contrary, initially decided to put up barbed wire fences in the area opposite the Brandenburg Gate. Over time, the barrier turned into a wall about 155 km long, heavily guarded by guards, dogs and surveillance mechanisms.
East German soldiers try to stop journalists from taking pictures at the Berlin Wall.**
Several escape attempts were made, some successful but others not, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people. The area near the wall located in the western part was known as the "death zone", due to of the fate of those who tried to flee and were reached by the weapons of German soldiers Orientals.
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The wall was also the target of graffiti and graffiti protesting against the Soviet regime on the western side of the wall. Since the end of World War II, tensions between the US and the USSR have increased.
The implantation of the Marshall Plan by the USA in Europe intended to economically recover the west of the continent with large sums of capital of American origin. On the other hand, the USSR instituted Comecon (Council of Mutual Economic Assistance) to economically integrate countries within its sphere of influence.
Berlin and Germany, divided, synthesized in a territory and in a previously united nation the disputes for the development of two types of capitalism, in a situation that characterized the Cold War: on the one hand, Western capitalism, with the articulation of private companies and state-owned companies; on the other, Soviet capitalism, with state ownership and centralized state economic planning.
The most vigorous development and the victory of Western capitalism led to the disintegration of the Soviet bloc, the consequences of which also influenced the two Germanys. On November 9, 1989, the population was informed of the release of the crossing between the two parts of divided Berlin. Thousands of people flocked to the wall, celebrating and destroying part of it. It was the end of the Soviet system in Germany and the beginning of the end of the USSR. Years later Germany would be unified again.
The largest portion of the Berlin Wall was shredded, being auctioned off or sold as a souvenir. In this way, people could buy part of the main symbol of the Cold War, indicating that it was not the fall of the Berlin Wall, but its commercialization.
* Image Credit: CIA
** Image Credit: CIA
By Tales Pinto
Master in History
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
PINTO, Tales of the Saints. "Berlin Wall and the Cold War"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/guerras/muro-berlim-guerra-fria.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
