The Significance And Consequences Of The Fall Of The Berlin Wall

Question 1

How the Berlin Wall fell by November 1989?

Answer 1

1. Due to Gorbachev’s new way of thinking, East Germans had already started to travel to the ‘West’ through Austria. Other Eastern European countries were starting to give more freedom to their people such as Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. In these countries, citizens started to cross the border to the West unchallenged by the Soviet Army.
2. This influenced and gave the message to the citizens of East Berlin that they could potentially do the same if they protested enough.
3. Mikhail Gorbachev visited East Germany in October 1989 and told people that he would not get in the way if the people wanted change.
4. In October 1989 , East German citizens started to protest about the wall and demanded that the border ‘ Checkpoint Charlie’ was opened. Thousands gathered at the checkpoint.
5. By 4th November one million demonstrators took to the streets of East Berlin to demand democracy and the end of the Berlin Wall.
6. By 9th November 1989 , Gorbachev refused to challenge the demonstrations and told the East German government that they could open the border ‘indefinitely’.

Question 2

The people of East and West Germany and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Answer 2

❑ Many citizens had been split up from their family and friends when the wall was built. The fall of the wall meant that they could be reunited after 28 years.

❑ There were scenes of great emotion and anger at the wall when they realised that the border crossing was open without the restriction of the East German and Soviet troops.

❑ For days after, people travelled through to the ‘other side’ and even brought pick axes and hammers to break down the wall themselves.

❑ The fall of the Berlin Wall was broadcast live on TV around the world. TV images showed thousands of East Germans crossing over the West for the first time in 28 years.

❑ The fall of the wall proved that Gorbachev was not willing to stop of challenge demonstrations/protests by the East German people.

Question 3

Consequences - Gorbachev fell from power.

Answer 3

Gorbachev fell from power – end of the
Soviet Union.
Despite being seen as a hero in the West for wanting to ‘reform’ and bring changes to Communism, other, more extreme Communist leaders in the Soviet Union believed that Gorbachev had been too soft and a weak Communist leader. They pushed him out of power by December 1991.
IMPORTANCE:
There was so much disagreement and a lack of leadership in the Communist Party, that the Soviet Union formally broke up (stopped existing) after 1991.

Question 4

Consequence - Eastern European countries regained their freedom

Answer 4

Many countries in Eastern Europe gained independence from the Soviet union. They held their own free elections and voted out Communism. They no longer had to follow the rules set out in Moscow or be under threat if they did not follow them.
IMPORTANCE:
It showed the end of control by the Soviet Union and the lack of support that Communism had. No Eastern European country wanted to stay Communist after 1989.

Question 5

Consequences - the end of the Warsaw pact (1991)

Answer 5

The Warsaw Pact had been set up by the Soviet Union in 1955 after the creation of NATO by the West. It meant Europe was divided into two armed camps. It was the Warsaw Pact troops who stopped Hungary and Czechoslovakia from escaping Communist control in 1956 and 1968.
Now Gorbachev had said he would not challenge the actions and decisions of other Eastern European countries, there was no need for the Warsaw Pact. IMPORTANCE:
It showed an end to the possible military fight between the two sides. The Soviet Union would no longer be a threat to the West in Europe.

Question 6

Consequences - reunification of Germany 1990

Answer 6

Germany was formally united into one country in less than a year by October 1990. IMPORTANCE:
After Germany was united, it was mainly controlled by the West. This showed how successful capitalism was. Russia no longer had control over Germany.

Question 7

Consequences - a symbolic event

Answer 7

The fall of the wall, symbolised the end of the divide between the two sides. It also symbolised an end to Churchill’s idea of an ‘Iron Curtain’ that divided Europe. IMPORTANCE: To many it proved the victory of the West over the East and of capitalism over