The Berlin Wall, 1961

• On August 13 of 1961, Berlin found itself divided into two by the Berlin Wall separating the East and West Germany
• This surprised the people as the leader of East Germany had stated that there was no intention of setting up a wall less than 2 months before. Yet East Germany had set up a wall on Soviet orders
• The wall was made to prevent people from migrating from the East to the West. 2.6 million (around 15% of the population) had left East Germany for West Germany between 1949 to 1961

• After 1948, the difference in the quality of life between West Germany and East Germany continued to grow
• West Germany was rebuilt from the damage of WW2 under the economic support from USA's Marshall Aid
• East Germany suffered under harsh conditions and Sovviet communist rule

• Social: Those who left East Berlin often were young educated scholars, which meant that the Communist Party feared losing its intelligent people in East Berlin
• Economic: Many skilled workers were leaving East Germany and by 1960, the percentage of people of working age was 61%. The initial percentage was 70% before the war
• Political: The leaving citizens made it appear that the communist rule was unpopular and led to the West using this as propaganda

To deal with these consequences, the government of East Berlin decided that a wall was the only way. Initially, the sides were separated with barbed wire, but on August 13th, the first wall was built

• Thought that the wall was a good idea as it believed that citizens leaving their country for West Germany was favoring the side that was promoting militarism
• The East German government viewed the wall as a victory for peace as spy activity, slave-trading, and other activity from West Berlin would end
• A brochure also stated that the East was losing its workforce because of underhanded tactics of the west
• It also said that the wall had prevented West Berlin starting war

• The reaction was not strong as the western allies could still get what they wanted
• An invasion from East Germany was less likely and they could still deploy troops in West Berlin
• The West could use the wall as propaganda claiming to be the side of freedom while the East used a wall to restrict the people's freedoms and keep them in