Atkins 1
As the dust of the second world war began to settle, reparations of civilizations and relationships were on the rise. Countless people had lost everything because of this bloodbath, and sadly the road to a life of normality was long and arduous for the citizens of post-war Germany. Although the war had ended, peace was not plentiful. Even before the end of World War II, a new struggle was developing between the United States and the Soviet Union (Schmemann 23). The U.S. and Soviet Union had been allies throughout World War II against Germany, however both countries held rival ideals and saw each other as potential enemies. The Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin took every advantage he could during the war to seize control of the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. There was not a doubt in anyone’s mind that Stalin wanted to further spread the Soviet system to Eastern European countries. The Yalta Agreement helped Stalin do just that. This agreement allowed to the Soviet Union to extend its control to the countries that the Red Army occupied. These countries included Poland in the north and Romania in the south (Schmemann 23). While the Soviet Union did everything it could to gain power, the United States was still waging war against the Japanese in the Pacific, and in no shape take part in another major confrontation, could only watch as the Soviet system spread. Many Eastern European countries called this period the “Western betrayal”. This term came from the fact that the U.S. spoke extensively of freedom and democracy, yet did nothing to prevent the Soviet Union from taking over European countries. Atkins 2 While Joseph Stalin was concerned with gaining more power, the rest of the world was contemplating the future of war torn Germany. In order to restore Germany to its pre-war condition, the Potsdam Agreement was put into place. This essentially split Germany and Berlin into four sections one of each belonging to the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. This agreement was enacted to not only rebuild Germany, but further rid the country of Nazi implements of war and fascist propaganda. While this agreement was to be temporary, it took forty-four years until reunification finally took place (Epler 27). This division came with many problems, for example, the British zone had coal and steel while the American and Soviet zones lacked fuel. These problems made the allies consider unifying Germany for practical reasons. Unfortunately, strains quickly developed between the four nations. The Allies were allowed to take whatever means necessary to control their zones. This included dismantling industries. The Soviet Union suffered enormous devastation during the war and felt justified in taking whatever they wanted. They shipped motor vehicles, railroad cars, and even entire factories to the Soviet Union. Then in May of 1946 General Lucius D. Clay, the American commandant, ordered the Soviets to stop dismantling factories in his zone. The British and French did the same. The western zones now focused on recovering the German economy. The Soviets, who thought this was an outrage, accused the other powers of violating …show more content…
And after many world leaders and celebrities spoke their opinions of it more and more people agreed. After nearly 30 years, being built overnight, the Berlin Wall finally fell. November 9, 1989, communism and the Soviet Union was struck with a blow that would affect them forever. The wall fell on this chilly evening and the torch of democracy had never shone so bright. All the while West Germans greeted East Germans face to face after almost 30 years of separation.
The Berlin Wall was the image of communism for the world (“Berlin Wall” History.com). An image that, much like the government system it was erected under, could never last. And such a belligerent and heedless obstruction to freedom is plainly idiotic at best. All it takes is for the people to rise up, speak out, and maybe tear down a wall. But always stand against oppression. The Soviets forgot one thing, the people hold the power, the people are the power. Not the government. That’s the lesson this moment in history
As the dust of the second world war began to settle, reparations of civilizations and relationships were on the rise. Countless people had lost everything because of this bloodbath, and sadly the road to a life of normality was long and arduous for the citizens of post-war Germany. Although the war had ended, peace was not plentiful. Even before the end of World War II, a new struggle was developing between the United States and the Soviet Union (Schmemann 23). The U.S. and Soviet Union had been allies throughout World War II against Germany, however both countries held rival ideals and saw each other as potential enemies. The Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin took every advantage he could during the war to seize control of the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. There was not a doubt in anyone’s mind that Stalin wanted to further spread the Soviet system to Eastern European countries. The Yalta Agreement helped Stalin do just that. This agreement allowed to the Soviet Union to extend its control to the countries that the Red Army occupied. These countries included Poland in the north and Romania in the south (Schmemann 23). While the Soviet Union did everything it could to gain power, the United States was still waging war against the Japanese in the Pacific, and in no shape take part in another major confrontation, could only watch as the Soviet system spread. Many Eastern European countries called this period the “Western betrayal”. This term came from the fact that the U.S. spoke extensively of freedom and democracy, yet did nothing to prevent the Soviet Union from taking over European countries. Atkins 2 While Joseph Stalin was concerned with gaining more power, the rest of the world was contemplating the future of war torn Germany. In order to restore Germany to its pre-war condition, the Potsdam Agreement was put into place. This essentially split Germany and Berlin into four sections one of each belonging to the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. This agreement was enacted to not only rebuild Germany, but further rid the country of Nazi implements of war and fascist propaganda. While this agreement was to be temporary, it took forty-four years until reunification finally took place (Epler 27). This division came with many problems, for example, the British zone had coal and steel while the American and Soviet zones lacked fuel. These problems made the allies consider unifying Germany for practical reasons. Unfortunately, strains quickly developed between the four nations. The Allies were allowed to take whatever means necessary to control their zones. This included dismantling industries. The Soviet Union suffered enormous devastation during the war and felt justified in taking whatever they wanted. They shipped motor vehicles, railroad cars, and even entire factories to the Soviet Union. Then in May of 1946 General Lucius D. Clay, the American commandant, ordered the Soviets to stop dismantling factories in his zone. The British and French did the same. The western zones now focused on recovering the German economy. The Soviets, who thought this was an outrage, accused the other powers of violating …show more content…
And after many world leaders and celebrities spoke their opinions of it more and more people agreed. After nearly 30 years, being built overnight, the Berlin Wall finally fell. November 9, 1989, communism and the Soviet Union was struck with a blow that would affect them forever. The wall fell on this chilly evening and the torch of democracy had never shone so bright. All the while West Germans greeted East Germans face to face after almost 30 years of separation.
The Berlin Wall was the image of communism for the world (“Berlin Wall” History.com). An image that, much like the government system it was erected under, could never last. And such a belligerent and heedless obstruction to freedom is plainly idiotic at best. All it takes is for the people to rise up, speak out, and maybe tear down a wall. But always stand against oppression. The Soviets forgot one thing, the people hold the power, the people are the power. Not the government. That’s the lesson this moment in history