Why was the Berlin Wall built and eventually fell?

Answer 1

After WWII, Germany was divided into east and west. The east was communist and under the control of the USSR (part of the Eastern Block). The west was capitalist and closely allied with the United States. The city of Berlin was also divided into east and west, however, the city was located entirely within East Germany. Communist oppression of East Germans led to massive migration from East Berlin to West Berlin. In order to stop this and exert greater control over the citizens of E. Berlin, Joseph Stalin ordered that a wall be built to separate the two halves.

The wall was very unpopular with both East and West Berliners, but it was maintained by the USSR. In the 80s, as Soviet Power eroded, the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev began a policy of liberalization. Then, in a speech in 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan famously declared, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" The wall eventually became politically indefensible, so when a massive protest demanded that the border crossings be opened, the East German government relented, and the wall was torn down in 1989.

Answer 2

The Berlin Wall was built after the Allies won WWII. As part of the peace treaty, Germany was divided into East and West, with East Germany under the auspices of the USSR and West Germany being overseen by the UK and US. This was done to significantly reduce Germany's power, as the Germans were saddled with much of the blame for causing WWI and WWII. Since Berlin was the capital, the city was split into East and West as well.

The Berlin Wall eventually fell as the USSR's power waned. Berlin itself was completely within West Germany, but half the city was locked away under the control of the USSR. The fall of the Berlin Wall was seen as the beginning of the end of communist USSR.

Answer 3

It was built to keep the East berlin and West berlin separate.