Differences Between East And West Germany During The Berlin Wall

Last Updated on December 11, 2021 by QCity Editorial Stuff

In 1961, the Berlin Wall was erected by East Germany to keep people from escaping. This divided the country and created a sense of West German superiority because they were living in a more stable environment. In 1989, the wall came down as a result of protests from those who wanted freedom and reunification. The east then became much like that of its Western counterpart with capitalism being introduced as well as an increase in wages. Nowadays, what remains is simply two different cultures that have been separated for too long as it once was before WWII began. It is unfortunate how history has repeated itself but now there are lessons to be learned about what happened back then so we don’t make these mistakes again.” 

Many people often wonder how East and West Germany differed during their time of separation. This blog post will explore some of the main differences between these two countries, including culture, economy, environment, population size, and more. 

Some may not know that there are still many remnants left from this era in Berlin, such as the infamous Berlin Wall which was erected on August 13th, 1961 by East German authorities to stop mass emigration from Eastern Europe to Western Europe. The wall ran for about 100 miles through North-West Berlin separating it into two parts with death strips running down its length. 

Comparison Between East And West Germany During The Berlin Wall

Parameters of Comparison	East Germany During the Berlin wall	West Germany During the Berlin wall
System	East Germany was a communist country	West Germany was a democratic capitalist country
Allow	. East Germans were not allowed to cross the Berlin Wall into West Berlin	East Germans had less access to goods and food than their Western counterparts
Freedom	More freedom	Less freedom
Permission	East Germans were not allowed to leave the country without permission from the government	West Germans could travel freely in and out of their country

How Was East Germany During The Berlin Wall?

No one knows exactly how many people died trying to cross the Berlin Wall. East Germany was a communist dictatorship that would do anything to prevent its citizens from leaving, and the wall was built for just that reason. It is estimated that somewhere between 100 and 200 people were killed while attempting to escape over or under the wall. The death count could have been much higher if it wasn’t for a handful of brave individuals who helped refugees escape through tunnels they dug beneath the ground or by creating secret passageways in their own homes. This blog post will explain what life was like on both sides of the Berlin Wall during this period as well as some notable events that took place during those years including the first major breach in 1961, several escapes

East Germany was a communist state located in the heart of Europe. It was bordered by Poland to the north, West Germany and Czechoslovakia to the west, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and Denmark to the north. The Berlin Wall divided East from West Berlin for over 30 years as well as separated families from each other. In 1989 after several months of peaceful protests across Hungary, East Germany opened its borders allowing citizens free travel into West German territories. The fall of this wall symbolized not only an end to socialism but also a new beginning for Europe’s future with increased international relations between countries on opposite sides of this division.

How Was West Germany During The Berlin Wall?

West Germany was an interesting place to live during the Berlin Wall. The wall divided families, friends, and even strangers; it created a new international border that cuts through the heart of West Berlin. It seemed like there had been no reason for this sudden division, but in reality, it served as a barrier between the capitalist West and the communist east. All these years later people are still trying to understand what life was like for those who were living with the restrictions of communism on one side of the wall and capitalism on another side. This blog post will explore how people lived their lives during this period. 

West Germany was a country in central Europe, and it had to deal with the Berlin Wall that separated East and West Germans. The Berlin wall went up on August 13th of 1961, and after 28 years of separation, the wall came down on November 9th, 1989. West Germany dealt with many consequences from this event such as an increase in crime rates due to the high number of refugees coming into their country following the fall of communism.

10 Differences Between East And West Germany During The Berlin Wall

1. East Germany was a communist country, while West Germany was a democratic capitalist country.

2. East Germans were not allowed to cross the Berlin Wall into West Berlin.

3. East Germans had less access to goods and food than their Western counterparts.

4. The average income in East Germany was much lower than it is in the U.S., with many families living off of just $200 per month.

5. In contrast, West Germans enjoyed the free speech and freedom of religion.

6. more people are living on one side of the wall or another because there’s been a mass exodus from Eastern Europe since the 1990s.

7. East Germany was a communist state, West Germany was a democratic capitalist state.

8. East Germans were not allowed to leave the country without permission from the government, while West Germans could travel freely in and out of their country.

9. The Berlin Wall divided these two countries along with its capital city, Berlin.

10. To get into East Berlin from West Berlin, one had to pass through checkpoints that were guarded by armed soldiers.

Interesting Statistics Or Facts Of East Germany During The Berlin Wall

1. East Germany was the socialist state in Eastern Europe during the Cold War and was a satellite of the Soviet Union.

2. The Berlin Wall separated West Berlin from East Berlin.

3. After World War II, when it became apparent that communism would be much more dominant in Eastern Europe than Western Europe, Stalin encouraged communist parties to take power in these countries.

4. In 1949, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was established and had its capital in East Berlin.

5. The GDR controlled all aspects of life for its citizens including their travel routes and what they could buy or sell. 

6. However, many people tried to escape from East Germany because they did not like living under such strict rules.

Interesting Statistics Or Facts Of West Germany During The Berlin wall

1. West Germany’s population was approximately 72.2 million.

2. The average life expectancy for a male in West Germany was 72 years old.

3. In the 1960s, East and West Berliners were paid equally (West Germans earned about 2-4 times more).

4. A year after the wall went up, there were 10 deaths on either side of it.

5. There were an estimated 100 escape attempts every day at the Berlin Wall.

6. It took six months to build the Berlin Wall which cost around USD 260 million.

Conclusion About The Differences Between East And West Germany During The Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 to stop the spread of communism. There are many differences between East and West Germany during this period. For example, Eastern Germans were allowed to travel without restrictions while Westerners faced strict rules on who they could visit or where they could go. The quality of life for people living under Communism wasn’t that different from those living in a democracy until 1989 when citizens started protesting against their government’s policies including higher prices for food and other goods which led to the downfall of Communist governments across Europe.

In conclusion, the Berlin Wall was a major factor in why East and West Germany differed so drastically. The constant threat of being caught by the “Stasi” led to an oppressive atmosphere that ensured people were always on edge. In contrast, West Germans could enjoy more freedoms such as listening to Western music or going out with friends without fear of getting arrested for doing something seen as illegal in their country. These differences are some of many reasons why it’s important not to make assumptions about a culture based on what you read online or see on TV – there is much more hidden beneath the surface than meets the eye.

References:

Resource 01: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall
Resource 02: https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/berlin-wall