Fall Of The Berlin Wall East Germany example essay topic

... ves or anything on the west side of the wall. The people of West Germany were granted permission to go to the East side of the wall, but they could not take anything with them. They were allowed to stay for only a week, and they could only do this a couple times each year". As I talked to my German roommate who lived in West Germany, he told me about all of the hardships that the people in East Germany went through. He visited East Germany and he told me about all of the hassle he had to go through just to see friends and family. He said he believes it is as bad as being in prison.

He also told me that no one could trust anybody. He said best friends would be torn apart because they didn't know if the other could have been a spy. He told me that he heard that 1 out of every 6.5 citizens of Berlin were spies, and if someone was caught talking about the government they would be severely punished". The people of East Germany knew there was nothing they could do, so they tried to live their lives as best they could. Occasionally someone would try to get through to the west, and would either be shot, arrested, or sometimes make the escape to freedom.

In all around 5000 people made it to the west, around 3200 were arrested trying, around 160 were shot in killed trying, and around 120 were shot and injured by trying to make that escape to freedom. Years past and nothing changed, the East Germans still had no freedom. At the brink of nuclear war, the United States and the Soviet Union reached a deadlock, but the Berlin Wall remained, representing the remaining Cold War related tension between the two countries. In the mid 1980's there was a beginning of change in the relationship of East and West Germany. Finally, in November of 1989, emigration barriers finally dropped in November 1989, which allowed free passage between East and West Berlin. Soon after the free passage was allowed the Berlin Wall was taken down.

The entire wall was taken down except for the areas of historical meaning, such as the part in front of the parliament of Berlin and the places with graffiti artwork. The collapse of the Berlin Wall signified the true end of the Cold War and its terrifying era. The Cold War was coming to a gradual end. Mikhail Gorbachev, who was then the leader of the Soviet Union, said that his country, and the world, was in need of reform.

After Gorbachev got his point across to many people, and even many government officials, the end of the Cold War was in close sight. By September 10, 1989 the Hungarian government had opened the border for the East German refugees. This was a big step for the East Germans freedom. On October 6, 1989 East Germany celebrated its 40th anniversary of statehood. Then just two days later thousands took the streets shouting "no more violence!" and "join us join us". Then a group of people that spoke for all of East German citizens said: 'We, the people, demand: 1.) The right to free access of information.

2.) We demand the right to open political discussions. 3.) We demand the freedom of thoughts and creativity. 4.) We demand the right to maintain a plural ideology. 5.) We demand the right to dissent.

6.) We demand the right to travel freely. 7.) We demand the right to exert influence over government authority. 8.) We demand the right to re-examine our beliefs. 9.) We, the people, demand the right to voice an opinion in the affairs of state.

' After this statement by the people of East Germany, the East German government felt obligated to give in to the people. The day then finally came about a month later. On November 9, 1989 the Berlin Wall was finally opened. The crowds were amazing; thousands of people were at the wall going over to see friends and family that they hadn't seen for years. The celebrating continued throughout the night, and the next day.

On the 10th and 11th of November the flow from East to West Germany was endless. The evening of November 11th the first concrete slab was taken from the wall, and as this happened the cheers from the crowds were heard from miles away. The last step was the opening of the Brandenburg Gate, which was finally opened on December 22, 1989. This was the end of the legendary Berlin Wall, and the beginning of the reunification of Germany. The reunification of Germany was a great victory for the German people and the nations of the west, but the Berlin Wall has left economic and emotional scars that can only be healed by the hard work and understanding of generations to come. The building of the Berlin Wall was an important milestone in the growth of the Cold War.

It was the expansion that represented the thinking of a determined Communist system. Western Capitalism, who was more powerful, eventually defeated the system. The struggle between these two political poles exists to this day. During the time of the cold war East Germany went through many hard times, but they had went through hard times before. They did a great job of dealing with all of their hardships. The destruction of the massive wall that did so much harm to a country that did not deserve it was finally destroyed, and the people of Germany could now live the way they all wanted to live.

They could live the life of freedom. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall East Germany has went through a lot of changes, and it still is not easy for all of the people in East Germany. But no matter how hard it is for the people of East Germany now, it is better than being alone and separated from the rest of Europe.

Bibliography

Berlin Wall Timeline; web p. htm". The Division and Unification of Germany: The Fall of the Berlin Wall"; web 11/11/99; 1-5". Berlin Wall Timeline; web p. htm. Berlin Wall Facts; web 01 p. htm Tusa, Ann; The Last Division: A History of Berlin, 1945-1989;
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Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. Grathwol, Robert P. and Moor hus, Do ntia M. ; American Forces in Berlin: 1945-1994 Cold War Outpost;
Washington D.C. : Dept. of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program, 1994 Berlin Wall Facts;
web 01 p. htm Knorr, Marco; citizen of West Germany; current roommate; interviewed on 11/17/99. Berlin Wall Facts; web 01 p. htm Bowman, Stephan; "Crisis in Berlin", VFW, November 1998;
34-38. "The Division and Unification of Germany: The Fall of the Berlin Wall"; web 1-5". Ramos, Andreas; "A Personal Account of the Fall of The Berlin Wall: The 11th and 12th of November, 1989";