When the division of Germany occurred in 1961 by constructing the eastern wall, the division was not only physical but also a representation of communism opposition to democracy. In that regard, the wall played an ominous part and affected not only the people of Berlin but the entire world population as well.
1. Initial International Reactions
When the construction of the wall began, people of the world looked at it with disbelieve as well as anxiety. Some people were quick to point of the tact taken by East Germany. This act of aggression was condemned by western leaders including the then president of United States of America John F. Kennedy. Kennedy went to West Berlin hardly a year after the construction of the barrier and made the ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech, which stated that the United States supported the people of West Berlin.
Examples:
- The construction of wall challenged the international human rights in Western countries and was perceived as a barrier of people’s movement.
- The United Nations also expressed their disapproval of this decision regarding the construction of the wall and requested to dismantle it.
- Most of the western countries ceased recognizing East Berlin as the capital of East Germany and had their embassies remained in West Berlin.
2. Reactions from the Eastern Bloc
It is noteworthy that, as much as the rapidly creating of the Berlin wall was an act of great condemnation in the Western world, in the Eastern Bloc it was done very differently. The Soviet Union and its subordinate state such as East Germany deemed the wall as an instrument that offered protection to socialism and halting of escape of productive employees and intellectuals from East to West.
Example:
- The East German government resorted to putting in place measures to prevent any intrusion across the wall at permissible points from W. Soldiers had been instructed to fire at any person attempting to flee to West Berlin.
3. Impact on the Cold War
The construction of the Berlin Wall raised the degree of tension of the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union. It remained as a unification of the communism and capitalism worlds. It eased relations between East and West earlier and shifted between both the countries that seemed to mistrust each other.
Examples:
- The United States chose containment as their policy: the goal was to avoid the further expansion of communism to countries beyond the territories of Eastern Europe.
- It strengthened the western frontation of West Berlin and their resolve to defend it as well as the democratic principles.
- However, several efforts was taken by the United States in order to force the Soviet Union to bring down the wall but all in vain until 1989.
4. International Solidarity and Reunification
However, much as a lot of fuss and criticism was showered on the division of Berlin, the world gradually got to accept the new situation. But for a long time, the rest of the world did not give up on the people of West Berlin and fought for the reunification of the city.
Examples:
- In its annual West Berlin musical event “Rock against the East-West Dialogue”, rock music took ethnic principle of resistance and freedom.
- Thus, during the 1980s several movements were initiated inside and outside Germany for the reunion of the Berlin and demolition of the wall.
- The East Germans rose up and peacefully demonstrated against the division of their Nation; in the same year other changes in Eastern Europe pushed for the opening of the Berlin Wall and people reunited and embraced to rebuild the single Berlin.
Conclusion
Some of the responses that emanated from the evolution of the construction of the Berlin Wall include the following. While the western-dominated world considered it as a tool of oppression and violation of rights, the Soviet Union and other socialist regime hailed it as a measure of protection. It intensified the tensions between East and West, and in general was an important component of Cold war confrontations. Nevertheless, the strivings for solidarity, international relations and, to some extent, reunification paved the way toward the end of the Berlin Wall as well as reunification of the city.
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