Why was the Berlin Wall built in 1961?

When was the Berlin Wall Built?

13 August 1961

Living conditions in the West

• The Soviets had stripped industry and resources from much of East Berlin as reparations

• USA had invested heavily in West Berlin

• People in the East were attracted to the West’s greater wealth and freedom

Propaganda

• People wanting to leave East Germany made the Soviets look unpopular

• Communist ideology looked weak compared to the attractions of the Capitalist West

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

• By 1960 only 61% of its population was of working age compared to 70% before the war

Why did the USA not respond to the construction of the Berlin Wall? (Prevented invasion)

• Made a Soviet invasion of West Berlin less likely

• There were no constraints imposed on Western movements into the city

Propaganda victory

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

• Communist ideology looked even more unpopular – they had to build a wall to stop people leaving

• Berlin, the wall and stories about attempted escapes became symbols of the struggle against Communism