Berlin Wall Research Paper

The Berlin Wall was a massive structure (during 1961-1989) that separated East and West Germany, affecting many lives and causing disruption of peace. In August 13, 1961 the German Communist party built a wall to keep fascists out. The wall stood for over 20 years separating families and keeping business from spreading. The wall spread over 100 miles across Germany and proposed a threat to cross it. In the United States there were concerns about the wall, and how it would affect the economy. The U.S finally decided to go into Germany and tore it down in 1989. Although the wall was down, the memories and horrors lived on in people who had to experience it. Berlin in the 1960’s was a communist city that was being split by Germany by a huge wall that was later torn down by the U.S. Western Germany built a wall called the, “Berlin Wall.” The wall spread
over 100 miles, and was heavily guarded. John F Kennedy proposed the idea that the wall was a big threat for American values in the East. Since the wall opposed American values, John F. Kennedy announced that, “We must also be ready to resist with force, if force is used upon us (JFKLibrary.org)” This got us involved in the Berlin Crisis alongside Germany. JFK ordered ballistic missiles to help protect Berlin from the war to save the hurt people of Berlin. During the cold war, Berlin was ground 0 for attacks leaving the U.S unable to help them during the war. Once the war was almost over and our allies pushed Germans back, the U.S were finally able to take control of Berlin and tear the wall down. The wall was fully down and Berlin’s economy was still in ruins. The wall wasn’t just a structure, it affected millions of people’s lives, and changed families.
3 million people were affected by the Berlin wall. Social life and economy was also ruined by the Berlin Wall, making it hard to get food and supplies. This forced America to drop care packages to Berlin supplying them with food and other necessities. People in Berlin needed to cross the wall so they could reconnect to family and friends. This was impossible because of the use of “Death Strips”. Death strips were areas along the wall which included a “gauntlet of soft sand (to show footprints), floodlights, vicious dogs, trip-wire machine guns and patrolling soldiers with orders to shoot escapees on sight” (History.com). Over 170 people tried to cross the wall but were killed, but 5,000 people made it safely. Riots in Berlin were a common occurrence considering how many lives and families were affected by the wall. When the wall was finally torn down (in 1989), families rejoiced and spray painted quotes onto the wall. It was a sight to see, and one man wrote; “The war is really over” on the wall after it was officially
down.
To clinch what happened in Berlin over all those years you have to talk to the people who witnessed it. Berlin had a massive wall which cut off connections to many families and businesses. The wall spread over 100 miles and proposed a threat to whoever dare cross it. Over 170 people died from the wall and millions struggled from the broken economy it created. When the wall was finally torn down families rejoiced and held parties on the wall. It was a day to remember for everyone who lived in Germany. The Berlin wall wasn’t just a massive structure, it changed millions of lives and hurt families.