Did Divided Berlin Make Germany Center of Cold War?

[cwl]

The DDR and The Federal Republic were opposite social/political systems that bordered one another, BUT, so did other Communist and Capitalist nations.

It was Germany that was always alluded to as the potential "flashpoint" for World War III and potential nuclear annihilation. It was Germany where the greatest fear of the use of tactical nuclear weapons was generated.

The one thing that Germany had that no other nations in Europe had was a divided Capital between the two social systems. Berlin had the Berlin Wall, referenced in East Berlin as the "Antifascist Protective Rampart" and in West Berlin as the "Wall of Shame."

I believe there were more killings in the West Berlin border areas than all the other frontiers between East and West?

Why was there such a greater tension in Germany between the two major opposing forces in the world as compared to the rest of the world, in your opinion?

[Viktor]

Genosse,

Are we writing a Paper for you?.

[cwl]

No, I am looking to have a discussion on the importance divided Berlin played in the Cold War, it's impact on that City's residents both East and West and on the DDR and the Federal Republic.

I was a double major in college, Political Science and History, these discussions have always fascinated me.

[Mike G.]

The unique aspect with Europe is that WWII never actually ended. While on the one hand, a Fascist Dictatorship and threat to the world was defeated, a Communist Dictatorship and perceived threat to the free world ensued. You can trace all this back to the Yalta Conference and the decisive decision on the part of the US to halt its military force at the Elbe River. This lead to a division of Germany and a division of Germany's capital, Berlin. Consequently, a line was drawn in the sand, and a Cold War then continued.

In Europe, there were two catalysts for a perpetual powder keg.

On the one hand, there was the division between East and West Germany. This division of course was more than just geographic. It was political and represented two governmental concepts diametrically opposed to one-another. The allies had no choice but to base a large combined military force there. And this action, seen by the Soviets as threatening, was then countered by the creation of the Warsaw Pact and subsequent deployment of a large Soviet Army in East Germany to offset the Allied Forces in West Germany.


Berlin was a whole other complex issue in and of itself. What is lost on a lot of uninformed people, is the fact Berlin was not situated on the border between East and West Germany - it was actually located inside of East Germany. One cannot ignore that the Soviet Union did not like the idea that the Allies had their forces positioned 110 miles inside the Iron Curtain, festering there like a sore. Even though they were a "Token Force" at best, the humiliation that was felt proved to be tremendous. West Berlin was like a window on the free world that could not be shut.

In many ways, it is a miracle the "Cold War" didn't go "Hot". In some iconic way, I think Korea, Viet Nam and Cuba all served to keep Europe secure. The Soviets and Allies had these other countries where they could "Play at War", without destroying their own back yards.

.....

As for life in the devided city of Berlin there already are many books and other sources of material on this. We also have on this forum German members representative of both sides, East and West Germany. And I have my wife - a West Berliner.

WARNING: It is important to remember above all else, this forum is primarily for collecting military memorabilia, and a caution must be afforded pursuant engaging in dialogue of a political nature. This type of discussion probably is best pursued on the Forum's "Die Kneipe.

[cwl]

The unique aspect with Europe is that WWII never actually ended. While on the one hand, a Fascist Dictatorship and threat to the world was defeated, a Communist Dictatorship and perceived threat to the free world ensued. You can trace all this back to the Yalta Conference and the decisive decision on the part of the US to halt its military force at the Elbe River. This lead to a division of Germany and a division of Germany's capital, Berlin. Consequently, a line was drawn in the sand, and a Cold War then continued.

In Europe, there were two catalysts for a perpetual powder keg.

On the one hand, there was the division between East and West Germany. This division of course was more than just geographic. It was political and represented two governmental concepts diametrically opposed to one-another. The allies had no choice but to base a large combined military force there. And this action, seen by the Soviets as threatening, was then countered by the creation of the Warsaw Pact and subsequent deployment of a large Soviet Army in East Germany to offset the Allied Forces in West Germany.


Berlin was a whole other complex issue in and of itself. What is lost on a lot of uninformed people, is the fact Berlin was not situated on the border between East and West Germany - it was actually located inside of East Germany. One cannot ignore that the Soviet Union did not like the idea that the Allies had their forces positioned 110 miles inside the Iron Curtain, festering there like a sore. Even though they were a "Token Force" at best, the humiliation that was felt proved to be tremendous. West Berlin was like a window on the free world that could not be shut.

In many ways, it is a miracle the "Cold War" didn't go "Hot". In some iconic way, I think Korea, Viet Nam and Cuba all served to keep Europe secure. The Soviets and Allies had these other countries where they could "Play at War", without destroying their own back yards.

.....

As for life in the devided city of Berlin there already are many books and other sources of material on this. We also have on this forum German members representative of both sides, East and West Germany. And I have my wife - a West Berliner.

WARNING: It is important to remember above all else, this forum is primarily for collecting military memorabilia, and a caution must be afforded pursuant engaging in dialogue of a political nature. This type of discussion probably is best pursued on the Forum's "Die Kneipe.

Please believe me when I tell you that I am not trying to engage in politics here. I am solely interested in why Germany, both West and East seemed to be the focal point of the Cold War as opposed say to Austria and Czechoslovakia or Hungary and West Germany or Italy and Yugoslavia, etc.

[Gordon Craig]

cwl,

I echo what Michael has said. There other forums where this type of discussion should take place. Michael is a moderator of this forum and one of his tasks is to keep the forum discussions germain to the purpose of that forum. In this case military memorabilia of the DDR.

Regards,

Gordon

[cwl]

cwl,

I echo what Michael has said. There other forums where this type of discussion should take place. Michael is a moderator of this forum and one of his tasks is to keep the forum discussions germain to the purpose of that forum. In this case military memorabilia of the DDR.

Regards,

Gordon

OK, I am new, can this thread be moved to that forum, please? How do I accomplish this?

[torstenbel]

OK, I am new, can this thread be moved to that forum, please? How do I accomplish this?

any of the moderators can do that if they feel it is necessary. none of us mere mortals can accomplish a feat as monumental as this ;-)

[ehrentitle]

A great book that shows why Berlin was the focal point of the Cold War is Berlin 1961 by Frederick Kempe which was published in May. It does a good job of outlining the goals of the Soviets and had great insight to the thinking of Khrushchev and other major players in the Berlin crisis altough it goes a bit overboard in it's bashing of Kennedy for his handling of the crisis.

[Mike G.]

cwl

My comment was not a personal attack on or at you, and was a reminder to all.
I personally love to engage in the type of dialogue to which your thread was poised to go. And for that reason would very much like to meet with fellow DDR Collectors such as yourself, in person where this type of discourse can be freely engaged.
However, this forum has rules, and one of them is that political dialogue is a no no.
So as a moderator, I am required to do just that - moderate.

I wholeheartedly agree that the DDR is a very difficult topic to delve into without getting political. And for that reason, when there is a slip here and there in the voluminous number of threads and posts appearing on this forum, I look the other way, for a short time, out of courtesy.

But "Thems' the rules" and we all have to abide by them.

The good news is, that if you will do some searches on the DDR Forum, you will find that much of what you were wanting to extract from Forum Members on this thread you initiated, is actually discussed already. It's here, you just have to go look for it.

All the best.

[cwl]

cwl

My comment was not a personal attack on or at you, and was a reminder to all.
I personally love to engage in the type of dialogue to which your thread was poised to go. And for that reason would very much like to meet with fellow DDR Collectors such as yourself, in person where this type of discourse can be freely engaged.
However, this forum has rules, and one of them is that political dialogue is a no no.
So as a moderator, I am required to do just that - moderate.

I wholeheartedly agree that the DDR is a very difficult topic to delve into without getting political. And for that reason, when there is a slip here and there in the voluminous number of threads and posts appearing on this forum, I look the other way, for a short time, out of courtesy.

But "Thems' the rules" and we all have to abide by them.

The good news is, that if you will do some searches on the DDR Forum, you will find that much of what you were wanting to extract from Forum Members on this thread you initiated, is actually discussed already. It's here, you just have to go look for it.

All the best.

Thank you Michael for the good advice, I will search and I agree, it would be great to meet up and discuss a great many things.

Sorry for going off topic, I feel like a kid in a candy store here that gets a bit overanxious and reaches instead of asks. LOL

[Mike G.]

cwl

You might want to initiate a new thread in what is called "Die Kneipe". It is an area set aside for discussion of just about any topic in which, one might want to engage. You will not only draw interest and response from active members of the DDR Forum, but also from the total WAF membership.

All the best,

[cwl]

cwl

You might want to initiate a new thread in what is called "Die Kneipe". It is an area set aside for discussion of just about any topic in which, one might want to engage. You will not only draw interest and response from active members of the DDR Forum, but also from the total WAF membership.

All the best,

Thanks Michael, I have taken your advice and reposted in the other forum. Thank you for your kind patience!