Berlin Wall Research Paper
Samuel Skultety
Mr. Reyes
AP US History
9 January 2015
The Berlin Wall: How it Rose and the Impact of the United States In 1948, my grandfather was 14 years old. Although he lived in a somewhat secluded area, he was similar to every young boy in Leipzig, Germany in the 1940s. He went to school, helped around the house, and played soccer with his friends. My great-grandmother was a teacher in the local school district and my great-grandfather was a shoemaker who supplied goods for the town. However, my grandfather and many young people were living a less satisfying life than it may portray. Living in eastern Germany presented …show more content…
many challenges to my family. The war just ended, no one was able to get as much food and there was not much money to spend for desirable goods. This difficult way of life not only was evident in the 1940s, but during the 1960s as well, when my parents were born. The average family in the United States during the 1960s had a car, medium size house, and enough income to make a vacation or two or purchase goods, such as a TV or telephone. In Germany DPR, no one had a car, telephone, and both of my parents lived in apartments the size of a classroom. These were results of the events in Germany after the end of the Second World War. World War II caused crisis and disaster in Europe and other parts of the world, and its aftermath was no better. Stalin’s control of the continent following the war inflicted a mass amount of chaos onto the eastern nations, particularly Germany. With its defeat in 1945 and absence of leader Adolf Hitler, it seemed as if Germany would succumb to the communist threat already instilled on its surrounding nations. The Germans struggled under the Soviets, but twelve years after the war, West Berlin, with help from the United States and Great Britain, transformed into a major economic power in Europe. From 1961 to 1989, the Berlin Wall served as one of the most well-known and effective landmarks in the world. This thirteen-foot high barrier divided Berlin, as it cut off West Berlin from East Germany entirely , stretching over twenty-eight miles of land. The German Democratic Republic constructed the wall on August 13, 1961, and kept it closed for twenty-eight years. According to the eastern part of Germany, the wall was created to protect the side’s population from fascism, as during this time, East Germany was working on building a socialist state. The Wall also helped prevent massive emigration that was previously occurring in East Germany because of its communist ideals. Officially demolished in 1992, the barrier’s large concrete walls containing guard towers helped the nation enforce the practice that the wall was meant to carry out. Different countries had various opinions on this barrier, supported of course by the Eastern Germans and repelled by others, such as the United States. The construction of such a wall did instill a potential threat of a second Great Depression in Europe, in which Germany would be one of the hardest-hit areas. Thus, the United States decided to help out the Europeans in several ways, one of which was the Marshall Plan. The Berlin Wall, with its adept history and impact, not only affected the divided German nation, but also greatly influenced the United States of America, persuading the nation to assist Europe. Germany’s status following World War II included its reconstruction, where the Berlin airlift and the Berlin Wall took place, which all impacted the Cold War. When Germany underwent economic problems, the United States became involved in the falling nation’s recovery.
Until 1947, the US policy was that no help should be given to the Germans in their rebuilding process. Through de-industrialization, the United States hoped Germany would lose any capability of starting another war similar to World War II. However, the policy eventually backfired, and the United States ended up avidly assisting all of Europe. The most famous method of assistance was probably the Marshall Plan, named after then Secretary of State George Marshall. In 1948, the United States gave a total of around 17 billion dollars, the equivalent of 160 billion dollars today, as a form of economic support in order to help rebuild post-World War II European economies. The United States also aimed to remove trade barriers and modernize industry, thus allowing for the prosperity of Europe (Communism was threatened by the Americans during this initiative). Nations under the Marshall Plan were greatly assisted in their economic recovery. European economies grew at a tremendous rate during the American economic aid. Through coal and steel industries, the European Union formed as a result. To sum up, America proved to have a tremendous impact on Europe, supplying the continent with economic aid. Many events immediately following the Second World War had a huge impact on the reconstruction of Germany. After World War II, Joseph Stalin worked hard in order to weaken opposing powers and eventually spread communism into the German government. After attempting to reconstruct Germany and bring in a new currency into the nation, he ended up instituting the Berlin Blockade in 1948. Food, materials, and supplies were prevented from arriving in West Berlin. Stalin believed that cutting off West Berlin from the countries they relied on would leave Russia as the area’s only solution. The Allies, including the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Canada, France, and Australia, responded by starting an “airlift”, led by US Lieutenant General William H. Tunner, in which they supplied West Berlin with food and necessities. This created tension between the Allies and the communists, who in turn tried to disrupt the elections of 1948 in order to end the airlift’s productivity. 300,000 Berlin citizens protested and demonstrated for the airlift to continue. Success was eventually granted to the Berliners after Stalin lifted the blockade a year later, and Western shipments were again allowed to enter Berlin. The Berlin blockade had a heavy impact on the start of the Cold War. It stopped the reunification of Germany under a pro-American government and convinced the US that it must stand strong against communist expansion. The Berlin airlift, in turn, also had its effect on the Cold War, as West Germany felt a sense of pride in them, and the airlift led directly to the Berlin Wall’s construction. Therefore, Stalin’s attempts to control Germany after World War II significantly changed the German economy. Another Berlin crisis occurred in the period from 1958 to 1961. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev believed that Western powers needed to remove their forces from West Berlin within six months. West Berlin remained under western control, but since it was located so deep in communism, it was difficult to protect from that threat. When Khrushchev and US president Dwight D. Eisenhower met to discuss and possibly form a compromise, the Soviet Premier argued that America needed to leave West Berlin in order for communism to lessen its potential threat. However, Eisenhower believed that America needed to remain in West Berlin in order to prevent the area from being forced into communism. Three years later, they still did not find a solution to the problem. In 1961, six months was again the deadline for the Americans to leave West Berlin. After more discussion and lack of solution, Khrushchev decided to wait until the upcoming elections to further issue the problem. This crisis inevitably led to the establishment of the Berlin Wall. After a huge amount of people escaped from East to West Germany, it was required for East Berliners to possess a special pass before leaving the area.
Walter Ulbricht, a communist leader from East Germany, signed the order to construct the Berlin Wall in 1961. According to the GDR, the barrier was officially referred to as the “Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart”. This name displayed the self-centered intentions of East Germany, subliminally accusing the West Germany and countries of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) of being fascists. For its enemies, the Wall was occasionally referred to as the “Wall of Shame”, coming from West Germany’s Mayor Willy Brandt. US president Lyndon B. Johnson flew to Berlin, showing his support of West Germany. Three days later, 1,500 US troops were sent to Germany and were stationed in West Berlin. It was argued that the Wall restricted the Germans’ freedom of movement, which was restricted due to the prevention of emigration. Over 100,000 people attempted to escape over the wall. However, only between five thousand and ten thousand people succeeded in their mission. Two hundred other people were killed trying to escape, many of them either getting shot by guards or undergoing a fatal accident. The ones who failed in getting over the wall usually suffered in what known as the Death Strip. Serving not only as a physical separation of Germany, but also as a boundary between communism and capitalism, the barricade provoked tension and rebellion, not only domestically, but internationally. US president Ronald Reagan issued a challenge to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to destroy the wall, remarked notably in the words “Tear down this wall!” during a speech at the Bradenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall. Gorbachev threw the responsibility of the global problems on the Eastern Europeans, and it was this man who eventually led to the fall of the wall. On November 9, 1989, a mass amount of people from both sides surrounded the wall
and began chipping off pieces using hammers and small tools and rejoiced as the East and West Berliners could finally greet each other. On October 3, 1990, Germany was officially reunited. The Berlin Wall’s presence itself did not have a heavy impact on the world, but its fall certainly did. Communism lost its influence in East Germany, and the Allied Powers lost its fear of another potential war in Europe. America was thus able to reorganize itself, since a military force was no longer required for them to have. The North American nation was left as the only major powerful country in the world, allowing the nation to spread democracy freely across the world. The Berlin Wall had a heavily influence on Germany and the world, particularly after its fall, and served as and destroyed hope for communism to prosper in Europe. In conclusion, the end of World War II did not prevent numerous disasters and events in Europe from occurring after its apparent legacy was complete. Joseph Stalin used the terror following the war as a way to instill communism into Europe. Indeed, he succeeded in drawing in minor powers, but failed in establishing his government in West Germany, despite his various strategies. Stalin hoped to obtain his goal by instituting the Berlin blockade, which was brought to a halt thanks to the Allied Power’s response, in which they formed the Berlin airlift. However, the transformation of Europe in pursuit of communism did not end there, as the Berlin Wall was built in order to prevent capitalism from influencing East Berlin. The Wall, however, also did not last long, remaining as a barricade for less than half a century. Germany ended up eliminating communism from its economy and government, freeing itself from any more threats of an upcoming war and remaining as the nation it is today. The United States was drawn into the post-war conflicts, siding with West Germany in the fight against communism. In the end, its strong government and military made it the only major power left in the world after the fall of communism, causing democracy to spread throughout the world. Despite the hardships faced before, during, and after World War II, corruption in Europe involving communism eventually came to an end. My parents would always tell me about life in Germany during their childhood. Although the dictatorship seemed very dangerous, it was nothing like the situation today in North Korea. They grew up during the 1970s and 1980s, where the communist regimes were beginning to break down. For them, the difference between the East and West parts of Germany, for example, was finding loopholes in the government. There was surveillance in most places, and many people had to be careful what they say publically. Most people lived double lives in order to survive. My father told me that his mother told him from a very young age that what you say and do in school will be different from what you say at home. There were many people that tuned in to American TV and radio. My dad remembers watching “Back to the Future” when it came out in 1986. Although salaries were pretty low, the basic necessities were made cheaply, so everyone can get what they needed, such as food and rent. As a result, the selections of goods in the shops were often poor. This is completely the opposite when you wanted to buy a product from the west. Those desirable items were always priced outrageously expensive. My mom lived in an apartment complex and a supermarket was nearby. One day, she said the store was able to get candy from the United States, and everyone was eager to get a “taste” of Western life. She recalls long lines that would form whenever the store got candy. If you saw a line forming, you would always want to join it because there was usually something good. People did not even realize what they were in line for. However, my parents do not like talking about their life in Germany so much. We always go back to visit family and friends, but as far as I can remember, I do not remember a time where a conversation about it was brought up. They never explained the situation to me until a few years ago when I became interested in it, because they thought I would not be able to understand the history. It seems like most Germans want to move on from the events of the Cold War, and start new lives, whether they live in the unified Germany or in other nations. My parents told me that moving to America was the best decision of their lives. They even say that they feel young in this new country, and are basically living a brand-new life that they never would have imagined. And for that, I thank the United States for giving me the life I surely appreciate today. Their efforts against the Russian aggression and support of a unified Germany always made me, and my family interested in the United States, which I am proud to call my home.
Citation Page
“Berlin Wall Fast Facts.” CNN. Cable News Network, 04 Nov. 2014. Web. 16 Dec. 2014.
“Berlin Blockade and Airlift.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Jan. 2014. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
“How Did the Fall of the Berlin Wall Affect the World.” HubPages. N.p., 19 June 2013. Web. 13 Dec. 2014.
Cate, Curtis. The Ides of August: The Berlin Wall Crisis--1961. New York: M. Evans, 1978. Print.
Epler, Doris M. The Berlin Wall: How It Rose and Why It Fell. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook, 1992. Print.
Hastedt, Glenn. "Berlin crisis, 1958." Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2004. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. (accessed December 14, 2014)
“Hastedt, Glenn. "Berlin blockade." Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2004. American History Online. Facts on File, Inc. (accessed December 13, 2014)
“Toropov, Brandon. "Berlin blockade." Encyclopedia of Cold War Politics. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2000. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. (accessed December 13, 2014)
Genovese, Michael A. "Berlin Crisis." In Genovese, Michael A. Encylopedia of the American Presidency, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. (accessed December 13, 2014)
Mr. Reyes
AP US History
9 January 2015
The Berlin Wall: How it Rose and the Impact of the United States In 1948, my grandfather was 14 years old. Although he lived in a somewhat secluded area, he was similar to every young boy in Leipzig, Germany in the 1940s. He went to school, helped around the house, and played soccer with his friends. My great-grandmother was a teacher in the local school district and my great-grandfather was a shoemaker who supplied goods for the town. However, my grandfather and many young people were living a less satisfying life than it may portray. Living in eastern Germany presented …show more content…
many challenges to my family. The war just ended, no one was able to get as much food and there was not much money to spend for desirable goods. This difficult way of life not only was evident in the 1940s, but during the 1960s as well, when my parents were born. The average family in the United States during the 1960s had a car, medium size house, and enough income to make a vacation or two or purchase goods, such as a TV or telephone. In Germany DPR, no one had a car, telephone, and both of my parents lived in apartments the size of a classroom. These were results of the events in Germany after the end of the Second World War. World War II caused crisis and disaster in Europe and other parts of the world, and its aftermath was no better. Stalin’s control of the continent following the war inflicted a mass amount of chaos onto the eastern nations, particularly Germany. With its defeat in 1945 and absence of leader Adolf Hitler, it seemed as if Germany would succumb to the communist threat already instilled on its surrounding nations. The Germans struggled under the Soviets, but twelve years after the war, West Berlin, with help from the United States and Great Britain, transformed into a major economic power in Europe. From 1961 to 1989, the Berlin Wall served as one of the most well-known and effective landmarks in the world. This thirteen-foot high barrier divided Berlin, as it cut off West Berlin from East Germany entirely , stretching over twenty-eight miles of land. The German Democratic Republic constructed the wall on August 13, 1961, and kept it closed for twenty-eight years. According to the eastern part of Germany, the wall was created to protect the side’s population from fascism, as during this time, East Germany was working on building a socialist state. The Wall also helped prevent massive emigration that was previously occurring in East Germany because of its communist ideals. Officially demolished in 1992, the barrier’s large concrete walls containing guard towers helped the nation enforce the practice that the wall was meant to carry out. Different countries had various opinions on this barrier, supported of course by the Eastern Germans and repelled by others, such as the United States. The construction of such a wall did instill a potential threat of a second Great Depression in Europe, in which Germany would be one of the hardest-hit areas. Thus, the United States decided to help out the Europeans in several ways, one of which was the Marshall Plan. The Berlin Wall, with its adept history and impact, not only affected the divided German nation, but also greatly influenced the United States of America, persuading the nation to assist Europe. Germany’s status following World War II included its reconstruction, where the Berlin airlift and the Berlin Wall took place, which all impacted the Cold War. When Germany underwent economic problems, the United States became involved in the falling nation’s recovery.
Until 1947, the US policy was that no help should be given to the Germans in their rebuilding process. Through de-industrialization, the United States hoped Germany would lose any capability of starting another war similar to World War II. However, the policy eventually backfired, and the United States ended up avidly assisting all of Europe. The most famous method of assistance was probably the Marshall Plan, named after then Secretary of State George Marshall. In 1948, the United States gave a total of around 17 billion dollars, the equivalent of 160 billion dollars today, as a form of economic support in order to help rebuild post-World War II European economies. The United States also aimed to remove trade barriers and modernize industry, thus allowing for the prosperity of Europe (Communism was threatened by the Americans during this initiative). Nations under the Marshall Plan were greatly assisted in their economic recovery. European economies grew at a tremendous rate during the American economic aid. Through coal and steel industries, the European Union formed as a result. To sum up, America proved to have a tremendous impact on Europe, supplying the continent with economic aid. Many events immediately following the Second World War had a huge impact on the reconstruction of Germany. After World War II, Joseph Stalin worked hard in order to weaken opposing powers and eventually spread communism into the German government. After attempting to reconstruct Germany and bring in a new currency into the nation, he ended up instituting the Berlin Blockade in 1948. Food, materials, and supplies were prevented from arriving in West Berlin. Stalin believed that cutting off West Berlin from the countries they relied on would leave Russia as the area’s only solution. The Allies, including the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Canada, France, and Australia, responded by starting an “airlift”, led by US Lieutenant General William H. Tunner, in which they supplied West Berlin with food and necessities. This created tension between the Allies and the communists, who in turn tried to disrupt the elections of 1948 in order to end the airlift’s productivity. 300,000 Berlin citizens protested and demonstrated for the airlift to continue. Success was eventually granted to the Berliners after Stalin lifted the blockade a year later, and Western shipments were again allowed to enter Berlin. The Berlin blockade had a heavy impact on the start of the Cold War. It stopped the reunification of Germany under a pro-American government and convinced the US that it must stand strong against communist expansion. The Berlin airlift, in turn, also had its effect on the Cold War, as West Germany felt a sense of pride in them, and the airlift led directly to the Berlin Wall’s construction. Therefore, Stalin’s attempts to control Germany after World War II significantly changed the German economy. Another Berlin crisis occurred in the period from 1958 to 1961. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev believed that Western powers needed to remove their forces from West Berlin within six months. West Berlin remained under western control, but since it was located so deep in communism, it was difficult to protect from that threat. When Khrushchev and US president Dwight D. Eisenhower met to discuss and possibly form a compromise, the Soviet Premier argued that America needed to leave West Berlin in order for communism to lessen its potential threat. However, Eisenhower believed that America needed to remain in West Berlin in order to prevent the area from being forced into communism. Three years later, they still did not find a solution to the problem. In 1961, six months was again the deadline for the Americans to leave West Berlin. After more discussion and lack of solution, Khrushchev decided to wait until the upcoming elections to further issue the problem. This crisis inevitably led to the establishment of the Berlin Wall. After a huge amount of people escaped from East to West Germany, it was required for East Berliners to possess a special pass before leaving the area.
Walter Ulbricht, a communist leader from East Germany, signed the order to construct the Berlin Wall in 1961. According to the GDR, the barrier was officially referred to as the “Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart”. This name displayed the self-centered intentions of East Germany, subliminally accusing the West Germany and countries of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) of being fascists. For its enemies, the Wall was occasionally referred to as the “Wall of Shame”, coming from West Germany’s Mayor Willy Brandt. US president Lyndon B. Johnson flew to Berlin, showing his support of West Germany. Three days later, 1,500 US troops were sent to Germany and were stationed in West Berlin. It was argued that the Wall restricted the Germans’ freedom of movement, which was restricted due to the prevention of emigration. Over 100,000 people attempted to escape over the wall. However, only between five thousand and ten thousand people succeeded in their mission. Two hundred other people were killed trying to escape, many of them either getting shot by guards or undergoing a fatal accident. The ones who failed in getting over the wall usually suffered in what known as the Death Strip. Serving not only as a physical separation of Germany, but also as a boundary between communism and capitalism, the barricade provoked tension and rebellion, not only domestically, but internationally. US president Ronald Reagan issued a challenge to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to destroy the wall, remarked notably in the words “Tear down this wall!” during a speech at the Bradenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall. Gorbachev threw the responsibility of the global problems on the Eastern Europeans, and it was this man who eventually led to the fall of the wall. On November 9, 1989, a mass amount of people from both sides surrounded the wall
and began chipping off pieces using hammers and small tools and rejoiced as the East and West Berliners could finally greet each other. On October 3, 1990, Germany was officially reunited. The Berlin Wall’s presence itself did not have a heavy impact on the world, but its fall certainly did. Communism lost its influence in East Germany, and the Allied Powers lost its fear of another potential war in Europe. America was thus able to reorganize itself, since a military force was no longer required for them to have. The North American nation was left as the only major powerful country in the world, allowing the nation to spread democracy freely across the world. The Berlin Wall had a heavily influence on Germany and the world, particularly after its fall, and served as and destroyed hope for communism to prosper in Europe. In conclusion, the end of World War II did not prevent numerous disasters and events in Europe from occurring after its apparent legacy was complete. Joseph Stalin used the terror following the war as a way to instill communism into Europe. Indeed, he succeeded in drawing in minor powers, but failed in establishing his government in West Germany, despite his various strategies. Stalin hoped to obtain his goal by instituting the Berlin blockade, which was brought to a halt thanks to the Allied Power’s response, in which they formed the Berlin airlift. However, the transformation of Europe in pursuit of communism did not end there, as the Berlin Wall was built in order to prevent capitalism from influencing East Berlin. The Wall, however, also did not last long, remaining as a barricade for less than half a century. Germany ended up eliminating communism from its economy and government, freeing itself from any more threats of an upcoming war and remaining as the nation it is today. The United States was drawn into the post-war conflicts, siding with West Germany in the fight against communism. In the end, its strong government and military made it the only major power left in the world after the fall of communism, causing democracy to spread throughout the world. Despite the hardships faced before, during, and after World War II, corruption in Europe involving communism eventually came to an end. My parents would always tell me about life in Germany during their childhood. Although the dictatorship seemed very dangerous, it was nothing like the situation today in North Korea. They grew up during the 1970s and 1980s, where the communist regimes were beginning to break down. For them, the difference between the East and West parts of Germany, for example, was finding loopholes in the government. There was surveillance in most places, and many people had to be careful what they say publically. Most people lived double lives in order to survive. My father told me that his mother told him from a very young age that what you say and do in school will be different from what you say at home. There were many people that tuned in to American TV and radio. My dad remembers watching “Back to the Future” when it came out in 1986. Although salaries were pretty low, the basic necessities were made cheaply, so everyone can get what they needed, such as food and rent. As a result, the selections of goods in the shops were often poor. This is completely the opposite when you wanted to buy a product from the west. Those desirable items were always priced outrageously expensive. My mom lived in an apartment complex and a supermarket was nearby. One day, she said the store was able to get candy from the United States, and everyone was eager to get a “taste” of Western life. She recalls long lines that would form whenever the store got candy. If you saw a line forming, you would always want to join it because there was usually something good. People did not even realize what they were in line for. However, my parents do not like talking about their life in Germany so much. We always go back to visit family and friends, but as far as I can remember, I do not remember a time where a conversation about it was brought up. They never explained the situation to me until a few years ago when I became interested in it, because they thought I would not be able to understand the history. It seems like most Germans want to move on from the events of the Cold War, and start new lives, whether they live in the unified Germany or in other nations. My parents told me that moving to America was the best decision of their lives. They even say that they feel young in this new country, and are basically living a brand-new life that they never would have imagined. And for that, I thank the United States for giving me the life I surely appreciate today. Their efforts against the Russian aggression and support of a unified Germany always made me, and my family interested in the United States, which I am proud to call my home.
Citation Page
“Berlin Wall Fast Facts.” CNN. Cable News Network, 04 Nov. 2014. Web. 16 Dec. 2014.
“Berlin Blockade and Airlift.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Jan. 2014. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
“How Did the Fall of the Berlin Wall Affect the World.” HubPages. N.p., 19 June 2013. Web. 13 Dec. 2014.
Cate, Curtis. The Ides of August: The Berlin Wall Crisis--1961. New York: M. Evans, 1978. Print.
Epler, Doris M. The Berlin Wall: How It Rose and Why It Fell. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook, 1992. Print.
Hastedt, Glenn. "Berlin crisis, 1958." Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2004. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. (accessed December 14, 2014)
“Hastedt, Glenn. "Berlin blockade." Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2004. American History Online. Facts on File, Inc. (accessed December 13, 2014)
“Toropov, Brandon. "Berlin blockade." Encyclopedia of Cold War Politics. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2000. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. (accessed December 13, 2014)
Genovese, Michael A. "Berlin Crisis." In Genovese, Michael A. Encylopedia of the American Presidency, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. (accessed December 13, 2014)