Table of Contents
What happened to Germany after it was divided?
At the end of the Second World War, Germany was divided into four zones of occupation under the control of the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The American, British and French sectors would form West Berlin and the Soviet sector became East Berlin.
What happened in the division of Germany?
At the Potsdam Conference (17 July to 2 August 1945), after Germany’s unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945, the Allies officially divided Germany into the four military occupation zones — France in the Southwest, the United Kingdom in the Northwest, the United States in the South, and the Soviet Union in the East.
What happened to Berlin when Germany was divided?
But Berlin was split four ways, with British, French and American zones in the west of the city and a Soviet zone in the east. West Berlin became an island surrounded by communist East Germany. The wall was eventually built in 1961 because East Berlin was haemorrhaging people to the West.
Why was divided Germany Important?
For purposes of occupation, the Americans, British, French, and Soviets divided Germany into four zones. The American, British, and French zones together made up the western two-thirds of Germany, while the Soviet zone comprised the eastern third.
Is the Berlin Wall still up?
The last original segments of the Wall at Potsdamer Platz and Stresemannstraße were torn down in 2008. Six sections were later erected in front of the entrance to the Potsdamer Platz station. Just around the corner is one of the last Watchtowers left standing in the city.
Why did Berlin get divided?
After World War II, defeated Germany was divided into Soviet, American, British and French zones of occupation. The city of Berlin, though technically part of the Soviet zone, was also split, with the Soviets taking the eastern part of the city.
Why did they divide Berlin?
To stop the exodus of its population, the East German government, with the full consent of the Soviets, erected the Berlin Wall, isolating West from East Berlin. West Berlin, then literally an island within the surrounding GDR, became the symbol of Western freedom.
Why would the division in Germany be a problem?
The division of Germany was symbolic of the Cold War in that there was a literal wall placed between East and West Berlin. East Germany, the Soviet zone, was underdeveloped due to Stalin’s refusal to take Marshall plan funds in order to improve his sector of the city.
Is Checkpoint Charlie still there?
Checkpoint Charlie became a symbol of the Cold War, representing the separation of East and West. After the dissolution of the Eastern Bloc and the reunification of Germany, the building at Checkpoint Charlie became a tourist attraction. It is now located in the Allied Museum in the Dahlem neighborhood of Berlin.
Where is the kiss on the Berlin Wall?
East Side Gallery
It’s called “The Kiss” or “The Kiss of Death.” And it is perhaps the most famous image that appears in Berlin’s East Side Gallery–a nearly mile-long mile stretch of the Berlin Wall.
What did Churchill’s Iron Curtain mean?
The Iron Curtain specifically refers to the imaginary line dividing Europe between Soviet influence and Western influence, and symbolizes efforts by the Soviet Union to block itself and its satellite states from open contact with the West and non-Soviet-controlled areas.