Checkpoint Charlie: The Berlin Wall During The Post World War

Parker & Williams 1 The post World War II era was filled with chaos and uncertainty, for both the victorious Allies and the defeated Axis powers. Germany especially was in quite a critical state once the city of Berlin fell to the Soviet army on May 2nd 1945. However, this would not result in the absence of conflict in this northern European nation. The battle of ideologies was soon to take place, with Germany becoming a battleground once more. This conflict of beliefs and interests would be fought between the two largest powerhouse countries at the time. From the west the democratic United States of America would be leading the charge, and from the east the communist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics would counter. With each wanting

This division became a physical manifestation in Berlin with the construction of what would be called the Berlin Wall. The wall itself, as well as the infamous standoff at Checkpoint Charlie, became symbols of how future political and military relationships would be maintained for approximately forty-six years. A key aspect when researching the history of the wall, and the events at Checkpoint Charlie, is to ask how and why this all mattered so much during this stage of world history. To answer this question, research needs to be conducted in several regards: information regarding major post World War II events, the division of Germany between the Allies, the history of Berlin between the end of the war and before the Wall, the events of Operation Rose and the beginning of the wall’s construction, a day by day look at the standoff at Checkpoint Charlie, the history of Berlin after the wall was built, and the fall of the Berlin wall. With this information, an answer will become more

With Germany’s surrender occurring May 8th 1945 the war in Europe was officially over. Following V-E day, the leaders of Great Britain, the US, and the USSR would convene in Potsdam Germany to determine the future of the Germany. The meeting took place on July 17th 1945 with Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, and Joseph Stalin present at the time. The completed Potsdam Agreement resulted in plans for the demilitarization of Germany, and how it would be administered by Great Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union. Along with the previously mentioned demilitarization, there would also be the removal of any German war production facilities, reversion of all German annexed territory back to their respective countries, and the relocation of any German citizens from any non-German territory. Control of the country would be divided into four sections, each being under the influence of their respective country’s control. The north-west section would be controlled by the British, the south-western strip would belong to the French, the far southern portion would go to the Americans, and the north-east would be administered by the Soviets. However, a special exception to these new boundaries was the city of Berlin, which happened to be in the Soviet occupied eastern section of Germany. In the Agreement, it specified