Berlin wall 1961

Why was the Berlin wall built?

Brain drain

Brain drain

• Those who left the East were most likely to be young, educated and in skilled jobs.

• The East German economy needed these trained workers

• 2.6 million people left East Germany between 1949 and 1961 (15% of the population)

Why were people leaving?

• After 1948- Quality of life was better in the West

• West Germany recieved help from Marshall Plan to rebuild

• East Germany suffered under a Communist system

What was the impact of the mass movement?

• Socially

  • ‘Brain drain’ feared by the Communist party as the young and well educated were leaving

• Economically

  • By 1960- only 61% of population was of working age, was 70% pre-war

  • Engineers, lawyers, teachers leaving in high numbers

• Politically

  • Made Communist regime look unpopular

  • Negative propaganda- competing with West

  • Communists were made to look heartless, breaking up families and friends across the wall

  • US didn’t respond as this was a benefit, made invasion from the East less likely, and they also didn’t want to provoke USSR

Reaction of the West

• Muted as their own interests were unaffected

• Good propaganda that the East had to force people to remain

• West could claim to be allowing people freedom