Why was the Berlin Wall built?
the Berlin Wall was a physical barrier separating West Berlin from the German Democratic Republic (GDR), including East Berlin. the longer inner German border demarcated the border between East and West Germany. Both borders came to symbolize the Iron Curtain between Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc. the wall separated East Germany from West Germany for more than a quarter-century, from the day construction began on August 13, 1961 until the Wall was opened on November 9, 1989. during this period, at least 98 people were confirmed killed trying to cross the Wall into West Berlin, according to official figures. however, a prominent victims' group claims that more than 200 people were killed trying to flee from East to West Berlin. the East German government issued shooting orders to border guards dealing with defectors, though such orders are not the same as shoot to kill orders which GDR officials denied ever issuing. the fall of the Berlin Wall started in Hungary, where a reformist government started (May 2) to dismantle the Iron Curtain, with symbolic moments like the so called Paneuropean picnic (August 19) and the Austrian-Hungarian governmental meeting (August 23). on September 11 thousands of East Germans started to cross the Austrian-Hungarian border to emigrate to West Germany. that event caused popular demonstration and a irreversible political crisis in the government of GDR. when the East German government announced on November 9, 1989, after several weeks of civil unrest, that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin, crowds of East Germans climbed onto and crossed the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. over the next few weeks, parts of the wall were chipped away by a euphoric public and by souvenir hunters; industrial equipment was later used to remove almost all of the rest of it. the fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German reunification, which was formally concluded on October 3, 1990.
Why was the berlin wall built?
After WW2 germany was divided into 4 zones (British, US, France and the USSR). Berlin was also devided into 4 zones. This became a problem for Russia because berlin was in the USSR (Soviet) zone but it was sitll divided. France Britian and the US soon merged their zones so germany and Berlin were esensialy split in two. Anybody who became disatisfied with life in the USSR could travel to berlin and cross over to the west controled side and then go whereever they wanted. Berlin was an easy way to escape. The wall was built around the soviet contoled portion of berlin to stop the exedous of east germans. many of those who were "defecting" were members of the inteligensia.
Why was the Berlin Wall built?
The main reason for the construction of the Berlin Wall was to protect the Soviet-style economy the USSR and the East German government had established in East Berlin. Without the wall, goods were flooding into the East German zone, and the people living in the East were working in the West and bringing Western currency back to the East side. To control the influx of goods, currency, etc. - to minimize the influence of the West Berlin economy in the East - the East created the physical barrier. As for JFK, some historians point to his persistant antagonism of Kruschchev and his remarks about the necessity of maintaining a US presence in Berlin as leading to the Wall's construction. Apparently in August of 1961, Kennedy is also said to have commented that East Berliners had had all the years since the end of WWII to get out and move to the West, and that their failure to do so was - in essence - their own fault and their fate behind the newly-built wall was not America's problem. JFK's refusal to pressure the Soviets against building the wall, and his inaction during construction can be interpreted as allowing it to happen. In 1961, at least, Kruschchev saw Kennedy as a weak leader who would not stand up to the USSR and would not stand in its way.
Why were East and West Berlin separated by the Berlin Wall?
Germany was separated into 4 sectors after WWII, the largest was under Russian control (the East) and the West was split between France, Great Britain and the U.S. A lot of professional people from the East started leaving for West Germany. West Germany was benefiting from the professionals of the East and the East was looking to rebuild their state so they were getting angry that all of their professionals were leaving. Schooling was free in the East, but not in the West also, so people would go to the East for education and return to the West. Before the wall was built there were checkpoints where only 100 vehicles were allowed through a day. A big part of the construction of the Berlin wall was economics and the fleeing of all the educated people from the East to the West. West Germany was earning the wealth that the East thought they should have. The East also thought that the West was interfering politically. There's more information on the site below. Also if you google reasons the Berlin Wall was built there are lots of other reasons. The second link is also a really helpful and factual website that has a timeline of the Berlin Wall.
Why did they build the berlin wall and why did it fall?
Why was the Berlin Wall built up? More than 2 .6 million East Germans escaped to West Berlin or West Germany from 1949 to 1961. Many people had to suffer under repressions of the Communist system or wanted to live a better life in the West. The East German government saw no other way to prevent from escaping to the West via Berlin than closing the border between East and West Berlin on August 13, 1961 Why the Berlin Wall was taken down? At 06.53 pm on November 9, 1989 a member of the new East German government was asked at a press conference when the new East German travel law comes into force. He answered: "Well, as far as I can see, ... straightaway, immediately." Thousands of East Berliners went to the border crossings. At Bornholmer Strasse the people demanded to open the border and at 10.30 pm the border was opened there. That moment meant the end of the Berlin Wall. Soon other border crossing points opened the gates to the West In that night the deadly border was opened by East Germans peacefully.
What two countries did the Berlin Wall separate?
Um? The BERLIN wall separated East- and West- Berlin. This was in the heart of communist East-Germany, but, since it was the capital of Germany at the end of World War II, the Russians allowed the Allies to occupy the west half. It was begun on the night of 13th August 1961 and was regularly improved and upgraded. On 9th November 1989 the border was finally reopened.
Why did hitler build the berlin wall?
Actually, Hitler did not build the Berlin Wall. The Wall was part of the agreement between Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt when the war in Europe was over. Russia, England and the United States had fought together as allies, so as had occurred in so many wars in the past, to the victor(s) go the spoils and they had to decide how to divvy up Europe. Stalin received most of eastern Europe and half of Berlin. Hence, the wall.
Why did East Germany build the berlin wall?
It was built to keep the East Germans IN it was not built to keep the rest of the world OUT.