The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Essay by MontyGUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, December 2003

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The Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall

The rise of the Berlin Wall was not only a means of restrictive passage, but a symbolization of the Cold War. The fall of the Berlin Wall was also a symbol for the fall of the Soviet Union and the Cold War. The three major reasons for the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall were different governing ideologies, self-determination, and economics. The greatest factor many would say is the self-determination of the German people, but the real reason for the duration of the wall are the different forms of government controlling Germany and opposed to each other during the cold war.

When World War II was over, Germany was divided into four sectors. The Americans, British, and French controlled the west and the Soviets controlled the East. It was parliamentary democracy vs. communism. America, Britain, and France were all democratic in nature as opposed to Russia as a communistic state.

Although Russia allied with America and Great Britain during the war they were always enemies to each others governing ideologies. The two extreme differences in government meant extreme differences for Germany. Germans were separated at the heart of Germany in Berlin. West Germany progressed through capitalism and the aid of America, while the east remained poor and suffered through Soviet influence. On October 29, 1946 the Soviet Military administration safeguarded the demarcation line between East and West Germany to uphold Soviet interests. Growing tensions between the East and West heightened after the completion of the war. West Germany founded the Federal Republic of Germany on May 24, 1949 supported by the democratic nations of America, Britain, and France. East Germany founded the German Democratic Republic on October 7, 1949 supported by the communistic beliefs of the Soviet Union. Governing ideologies severely...