Grehan, John The Berlin Wall

Europe's Cold War Front-Line. Then & Now

Berlin, located deep within Soviet-controlled East Germany, became a flashpoint of the Cold War as tensions escalated between the former allies. By the late 1950s, the western sectors of Berlin were flourishing, while East Berlin struggled with economic and political oppression. More and more East Berliners attempted to flee to the West, making Berlin an important escape route. In response, the East German government, with the approval of the Soviet Union, secretly planned to seal off the city. On the morning of 13 August 1961, construction began on the Berlin Wall, which divided the city for the next 28 years. The Wall became a symbol of division, despair and escape attempts. Many tried to cross the Wall, but at least 101 people lost their lives in the process. The Wall also became a symbol of Cold War confrontation. Shortly after its construction, American and Soviet tanks faced each other at Checkpoint Charlie, marking a tense moment between the superpowers. For the next 44 years, West Berlin stood as a symbol of the West's resistance to communist expansion. The rise and fall of the Berlin Wall marked key moments in the Cold War, shaping its history and signalling both the beginning and the end of the conflict.