Berlin Wall
1961-1989
Objective: To understand the
symbolism of the Berlin Wall in
regards to the Cold War.
What was the situation after
WWII?
USA
 300,000 military lives lost
 Strong economy built up by
the war
 Goal – to spread capitalism
and democracy by
rebuilding Europe (Marshall
Plan)
 Establish a military presence
around the world. NATO
alliance with Western
European countries
Soviet Union
 28 million military/civilian lives
lost
 Devastated economy caused by
the war
 Goal – security for the nation.
 Security meant:


spreading communism,
Military alliances with communist
countries for protection. Warsaw
Pact.
How did satellite nations come to be?

After WWII the Soviet Union set up satellite
nations in Eastern European countries that it
occupied at the end of the war.



Satellite nations would act as a buffer between the
Soviet Union and “enemy” Western countries.
The satellite nations were formally independent but
politically controlled by the USSR and turned into
communist countries.
East Germany, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Romania,
Poland etc.
Satellite nations
Division of Germany
in 1945

After WWII, the Allies divided Germany into two
countries – East Germany and West Germany.



West Germany was allied with Western Europe and the U.S.
East Germany was allied with the Soviet Union.
The capital of Germany, Berlin, was also divided.

Located within East Germany!
East and West Berlin before 1961
• Because Berlin was occupied by all the Allied Powers, it was still possible to cross
the border between East and West easily.
• Overtime, it was clear that the economic opportunities were MUCH better in the
West than the East
• East Germans and other Eastern Europeans seeking better quality of life began
emigrating to the west.
• Elsewhere in Eastern Europe, Eastern Europeans could not cross to the West so
Eastern Europeans traveled to Berlin to cross the border.
• Because many people were young and well educated people leaving raised concern
of a brain drain in the USSR

In 1961, East Germany built a wall.

The wall separated the residents of Berlin who
considered themselves one community.
Explain GDR, Ulbricht statement -- http://www.the-berlin-wall.com/videos/walterulbricht-building-a-wall-530/
Wall goes up http://www.the-berlin-wall.com/videos/the-berlin-wall-goes-up-andstatement-of-willy-brandt-532/
Western news broadcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExOYvW5vCj4
Story of wall http://www.the-berlin-wall.com/videos/contemporary-witnessbrandenburg-and-the-secret-sand-788/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJSt7Lj-ykc&feature=related (from Barnes)

As the Soviet Union started to dismantle under
glasnost policies, US President Reagan and
Soviet leader Gorbachev negotiated to tear
down the wall in 1989.


Symbolic seen as the end of the Cold War.
First critical step in the reunification of Germany.