West Germany and Berlin was split into the three countries with similar political views on how to run the country/city, Britain, France and the USA. The country was a democratic and they elected Konrad Adenaur as their own leader. West Germany (German Democratic Republic) built up the German economy and made Germany one of the wealthiest countries in Europe at the time. It was called the ‘German economic miracle.’ Before the late 1950’s, it was easy for West Berliners to visit East Berlin with a day pass to visit family or friends, but East Berliners were not allowed to go the other direction. To the West, many people believed the wall was a sign that East Berlin was a falling state and that none of the people there wanted …show more content…
During WWII, many people and leaders in the GDR had quite close relations with their Nazi past. This is why many people, especially people of Jewish origin or people who were opposed to the Nazi’s, decided to live in the East. German novelist Stefan Heym told an interviewer in the 1980’s, ‘I believe that socialism is the form of human society that carries the future. And though a lot of things that have happened in socialism were tragic, very stupid and very bloody, I am still of that mind’. This belief and view of socialism was another reason for why people chose to live in FRG. Heym though, was quite outspoken and against some of the ways of the communist government in East Germany and was closely watched by the Stasi as well as having many of his works censored. As well as this, many people felt that the communist system was fairer and more equal for all citizens. All citizens in East Berlin had equal and stable jobs, enough food, an internally stable economy and an efficient distribution of resources. Many people preferred to live in this sort of environment rather that the West which had a more western and European way of living. Many people enjoyed the fact that everyone that there was no competition and an equal distribution and way of