The fall of the Berlin Wall not only symbolized the end of the Cold War, communism, and dictatorship in Eastern Germany, but it was also a great impact on European history. The Berlin Wall, despite its monstrous purpose, brought some positive consequences to the people of Germany. During the twenty-eight years the wall stood, many friendships and families were torn apart due to a physical separation, as well as metaphorical due to stigmas, controversies, and stereotypes. As the wall was built up, lifelong relationships were torn down. For some Berliners, however, it created tighter bonds, as people supported their peers who had been separated from friends, family, and lovers.
Construction on the Berlin Wall began on August 13th, 1961 (Staff, …show more content…
Families, friends, and lovers were divided. Once the wall was built, social standards were changed. People on the opposing sides judged those on the other side of the Berlin Wall. Many men and women lost their jobs if they were living on the “wrong side” (Dearden, 2014). This separation forced new friendships to be formed with those on the same sides of the wall. Citizens banded together to console and aid one another as they dealt with the loss of loved ones. A specific example of the loss of loved ones is Sigrid Paul’s experience. Paul gave birth to a baby boy named Torsten eight months before the Cold War began, not knowing that her son’s life would be involved with an egregious situation. Her child required desperate medical attention, and as a citizen of East Germany, she was forced to smuggle her baby boy into West Germany where he could get the care he was in need of. Because of the serious medical conditions Torsten had faced, he was required to stay in West Germany to go through with the procedures for him to be able to live. Paul was not able to stay in West Germany unless she wanted to leave behind her whole family including her husband and mother. Not coming to an easy decision, Paul chose to stay in East Germany with her husband. Paul says that the doctor that was able to send her child across the border is still a close family friend to this day (Corner,
Construction on the Berlin Wall began on August 13th, 1961 (Staff, …show more content…
Families, friends, and lovers were divided. Once the wall was built, social standards were changed. People on the opposing sides judged those on the other side of the Berlin Wall. Many men and women lost their jobs if they were living on the “wrong side” (Dearden, 2014). This separation forced new friendships to be formed with those on the same sides of the wall. Citizens banded together to console and aid one another as they dealt with the loss of loved ones. A specific example of the loss of loved ones is Sigrid Paul’s experience. Paul gave birth to a baby boy named Torsten eight months before the Cold War began, not knowing that her son’s life would be involved with an egregious situation. Her child required desperate medical attention, and as a citizen of East Germany, she was forced to smuggle her baby boy into West Germany where he could get the care he was in need of. Because of the serious medical conditions Torsten had faced, he was required to stay in West Germany to go through with the procedures for him to be able to live. Paul was not able to stay in West Germany unless she wanted to leave behind her whole family including her husband and mother. Not coming to an easy decision, Paul chose to stay in East Germany with her husband. Paul says that the doctor that was able to send her child across the border is still a close family friend to this day (Corner,