Pre-Berlin Wall Germany
Germany before the building of the Berlin Wall was seen as a divided country that was in turmoil. The post World War II era saw the country divided into four zones; each occupied by a foreign power. These powers were the U.K., France, the U.S. and the Soviet Union who each enforced their own laws and regulations. The German population had been separated into two groups; West Germans and East Germans. The West was governed by West Germany or the Federal Republic of Germany and the East was part of the Communist East Germany or the German Democratic Republic.
The post-war German society was in a state of flux, with no discernable sense of national unity or identity, as the country remained divided in four parts. The conflicting ideologies between the foreign occupying forces, made the German people suffer tremendous hardships. The economy, in particular, was in ruins and inflation was skyrocketing. In addition, Germany was facing racial tensions with the influx of “guest workers” from countries such as East and West Turkey as well as South-Asian countries.
Berlin Wall as Symbol of Separation
The Berlin Wall was seen as the physical manifestation of the separation between East and West. It was erected in 1961, and it marked the formal division between East and West Germany. The berlin wall was made up of 152 miles of concrete blocks and barbed wire. It was guarded by East German soldiers and “Volkspolizei” who watched over and tried to keep the people on the east side of the wall from escaping into the West.
In this time of strife, many political factions began to take form within the German population. On the East side, the SED (the German Democratic Republic’s ruling party) was taking over while on the West side, the Christian Democrats held sway over the population. Overall, the walls symbolized a deep division between East and West, and the hardship of integration and unification among Germans was clearly visible.
Political Turmoil
The political dissent between the East and West sides of Germany was apparent. The East side was governed by the SED and the West by the Christian Democrats. As a result, SEDs policies favoured centralism whereas the Christian Democrats favoured decentralisation. The ideologies of the respective parties made any type of political unification next to impossible.
The East and The West had very different economic systems. The West embraced free markets while the East adopted a socialist economy, which hampered the country’s economic growth. This difference in ideology coupled with a drastic difference in the living standards caused further tension between East and West Germans.
Furthermore, the Cold War caused East and West to be almost completely separate entities with almost no overlapping interests. The East was under the influence of the Soviet Union while the West was under the influence of the U.S. and its allies. The two entities were in fact in hostility with one another, and the East German government was especially hard on its population, creating a climate of mistrust and fear.
Social Consequences of Separation
The separation of the two sides of Germany had a direct influence on the social life of the German people. Many West Germans were not allowed to visit the East, and the few who were allowed to do so had to pay a high price for it. East Germans, on the other hand, had no access to the West, and their movements were heavily restricted.
The separation also had a psychological component, as West and East Germans had to adapt to their respective cultural norms and practices. This led to the emergence of different regional dialects, which further perpetuated the division between East and West. The division among the people was so pronounced that East Berliners and West Berliners were often referred to as two separate nations.
The people living in each side had vastly different lifestyles and access to resources. This was of particular consequence for Jews living in West Berlin, who had no access to the resources and aid provided by the East German government.
Effects of the Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall had a significant impact on the lives of German people. The economic and political policies of the foreign occupying forces had caused inflation rates to drastically rise, further exacerbating the economic crisis in Germany. It was also seen as a sign of the failure of democratic governments to ensure the unity and stability of Germany. The Wall was seen by many as a symbol of oppression, hatred and fear and it further separated East and West Germany, making it difficult to have any real unity or progress.
The psychological impact of having to live in a divided society had serious implications for the German people. Some Germans had to accommodate to a completely new way of life which was alien to them. These divisions influences the way people viewed each other and brought on an atmosphere of mistrust and hatred.
Modern Perception of Germany
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 had a significant impact on the society and culture of Germany. The Wall served as a reminder of the division between East and West and the hardships that come with it. After it was torn down, East and West finally had the opportunity to unify and become one nation.
Today, Germany is seen as a country that is unified and prosperous. It has one of the strongest economies in the world, and it has become a leading country in trade and economics. The culture in Germany is vibrant and diverse, and the country is welcoming to both its own citizens and immigrants from all over the world.
German Reunification
The reunification of East and West Germany effectively brought an end to the division between the two parts of the country. The relationship between the two parts had been difficult and fraught but eventually the reunification was achieved in 1990. The reunification was one of the main goals in the post-war era and was seen as a grand accomplishment for German society.
The reunification of Germany was a long and arduous process and it involved the coordination of various international forces. As a result, the country is now firmly unified and has developed a strong sense of national unity.
Economy & Infrastructure
Germany’s economy was affected drastically by the reunification. The country’s infrastructure had to be improved to be able to support a large population and the economic plight of East Germany had to be addressed. The German government had to invest large sums of money to improve the infrastructure in the East.
The reunification also had a large impact on the country’s economic policies. The economic policies of East and West were vastly different and the government had to combine the two systems into one, which caused some debated in the country.
In the present day, Germany has become one of the most powerful economies in the world. The country has a wide variety of industries and is a leading provider of technology and innovation for all of Europe. Additionally, Germany has become a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.
Education & Social Programs
The reunification of Germany also had a large impact on the education and social programs of the country. Education in the East had lagged behind that of the West and the government had to invest heavily in education to improve the situation.
Furthermore, the government had to develop and enact different social programs to help the poorer members of society. These programs sought to increase access to education, healthcare services, housing, and food for the population.
The government has also had to invest heavily in research and innovation to ensure that the country remains competitive in the international market. Numerous companies located in Germany have become leaders in their respective fields due to the government’s investment in research and development.
Culture & Arts Scene
The Berlin Wall did not only divide the German people physically, it divided them culturally as well. After the reunification however, the country embraced a culture of unity, diversity, and respect. Cultural festivals were held to celebrate the reunification and the different cultures and ethnicities of the country.
The arts scene also flourished in Germany with the reunification. Numerous famous artists from all over the world have shown their works in Germany in the years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Additionally, the German film industry has experienced a resurgence with numerous films and filmmakers telling the story of the reunification and the German people.
In addition to the return of the arts, Germany has also embraced different types of sports and has become a leader in the world of competitive sports. This has been of particular consequence for the younger population of the country who enthusiastically embraces different sports as a way to stay healthy and engaged in their community.
