12-15 pages

Unification of the Two Germans States

Berlin Wall was an obstacle that enclosed West Berlin that hindered its access by people coming from East Berlin and the surrounding regions. This scenario happened between 1961 and 1989; however, between 1949 and 1969, almost two million find a hundred thousand people from East Germany to the Western state. This action increased the number of skilled-labor, intellectuals, and professionals in the Western State[footnoteRef:0]. Remarkably, this action affected the economic prosperity of East Germany due to limited skilled labor, intellectuals, and professionals that worked in various departments in East Germany. Eastern Germany responded to the dubious activity to protect the economic prosperity of the Eastern state. In regards to this, the Eastern State built a block to hinder access of the citizens from the Eastern state to Western Berlin and entire Western Germany. The block was built for the first time in 1961 when the decree was implemented by the Volkskammer from Eastern Germany. The block was constructed using cinder blocks and barbed wire that replaced several concrete walls, which were supported by barbed wire and protected by soldiers in several watchtowers.  Besides, the barrier was also protected by mines, watchtowers, and gun emplacements[footnoteRef:1]. Later in the 1980s, the walls systems, fortifications, and electrified fences were extended by almost 45 km that divided the Berlin City into two; western and eastern part[footnoteRef:2]. The cold war between the eastern and western Germany was solved letter, and the two states reunified to form one united Germany. This research presents the drivers for wall constructions and the reasons why the unions reunified. [0: Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Berlin Wall | Definition, Length, & Facts. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Berlin-Wall] [1: Burda, M. C., & Weder, M. (2017). The economics of German unification after twenty-five years: Lessons for Korea (No. 2017-009). SFB 649 Discussion Paper.] [2: Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Berlin Wall | Definition, Length, & Facts. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Berlin-Wall]

Cold War

The Berlin Wall constructed symbolized the undiplomatic relationship between eastern emanating from Western Europe and the cold war in East emanating from Western state. Almost 5,000 people from the eastern state crossed over the obstruction using all ways possible and reached the final destination safely, whereas other 5,000 were captured in their attempt that resulted in the massive killing of 191 people when they scrambled to cross the wall. Thereafter, the obstruction wall stopped to serve as a political barrier between the two German states.

Effects of Cold War on Germany States Economy

The economic conditions in the East and Germany dramatically diverged because one State experienced economic freedom, whereas the other one suffered from socialism. Socialism is one of the greatest elements that ruined the East Germany Economy. Socialism is defined as the idea that workers' requirements are met through collectivization as the only means of production. This involves a system where banks, factories, and housing were nationalized and planned by the economy, which replaced capitalist competition. The central planning ascertained that it was not able to meet people's requirements that result in the collapse system collapse causing German socialism to fail[footnoteRef:3]. The same reason explains why it is hard to adopt socialism theory in German politics because it caused great failure in German politics. Before the cold war, Eastern Germany was richer as compared to the western part of Germany. The general country's economy was destroyed by the Second World War. The afterward scenario depicts the great difference between free enterprise and socialism. The Third Reich German economy was 103 % of the West state as compared to 31 % in 1991[footnoteRef:4]. These statistics indicate that the economy was wealthy but lost its value in a short span. The rates were impressive based on the national statistics products; the growth rates were impressive despite the actual performance being poor. [3: Burda, M. C., & Weder, M. (2017). The economics of German unification after twenty-five years: Lessons for Korea (No. 2017-009). SFB 649 Discussion Paper.] [4: Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Berlin Wall | Definition, Length, & Facts. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Berlin-Wall]

Another concern is the depiction of capitalism and its relationship driver to achieve prosperity. The difference between the two Berlins describes how capitalism played a significant role in buffering the economic sustainability. The main explanation of capitalism is based on divergent political networks. When equality is being fostered, it implies that people will live a common life; thus, there is talent differentiation, residents' aspirations, and technical skill of the two parts of the city [footnoteRef:5]. In West Berlin, the labor efforts put by men are spontaneous and ridiculous and were mainly directed by free men. On the other hand, the East Berlin effort is centrally controlled and given direction by the community planners. The differences in prosperity and between the two states serve as proof of the masculine of the direction forces of freedom over common planning.  [5: Schröder, N. (2019). Opinion: How eastern and western Germany still differ from each other. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.thelocal.de/20190207/a-germans-perspective-on-the-lasting-divide-between-east-and-west]

However, after the post-war, an incidence described as a miracle occurred, which resulted in the sign of prosperity in the economy. The Germany leaders made a decision to kill inflation, a scenario that impacted positively on the country's economic prosperity. Remarkably, the country controlled inflation by focusing on price controls and the eradication of Nazi-era Reichsmark with smaller denominations of new currency [footnoteRef:6]. These measures killed inflation in six months, where industrial production had significantly increased by above 50 % that impacted the incomes received by workers. [6: Schröder, N. (2019). Opinion: How eastern and western Germany still differ from each other. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.thelocal.de/20190207/a-germans-perspective-on-the-lasting-divide-between-east-and-west]

The Treaty Signed That Reunited German Nation In 1990

The German state has significant political and economic colossus for the Europe continent. German was reborn on 3 October 1990 after forty years of the cold war when the two states resolved their conflicts and differences to form one single country. The historic act was witnessed experienced by more than one million people; the processes resulted in termination of the cold war existing between the two states. During the event, the two German states joined together to form a united single federal government having black, gold flags, and red, where a full rampant Eagle brought by twenty youths from both states and parts of Berlin. The flag was raised by unique flagstaffs before the Reichstag, whose main intention was to dedicate to the German people. The president, by that time, Weizsacker, reiterated that "In free self-determination, we have completed the unity and freedom of Germany. We want to serve world peace in a united Europe”[footnoteRef:7]. Later, fireworks dominated over the proximal Brandenburg Gate and were demolished recently, where it was characterized by light in the cities in the German federal government inhabited by 77 million people. [7: Nelsson, R. (2019). German reunification: together into the great unknown - archive, October 1990. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2018/oct/05/german-reunification-october-1990]

A Fight for Inner Reunification by Germany after Unity

The unity party to unite two Germany states was over, and the world focused on the relationship between the German citizens from the former Eastern and Western parts. In this regard, the revolutionized Germany federal state with over seventy-nine million people will have to further their reunification process by establishing strategies for inner reunification. There was a need to create a strong bond and sought out differences that existed between the citizens from the two countries [footnoteRef:8]. The attitude polarization was reinstated at the climax of the first joint unification joint meeting between the East and West historians from Germany. The historians from the East were mainly accused of informing the entire generation with wrong historical information. The historians argue that the Marxism concept should not be eradicated from university academic curricular since it gives more insights to students about historical interpretation. The reorientation process is prone to difficulties in East Germany State because it selected prosecutors and judges who were not opinionated as compared to the Nazis’ legal profession[footnoteRef:9]. At one point, the West German minister Hans Engelhard reinstated that "The East German judiciary must undertake a thorough examination of its past if it wants to be credible in a democratic state.” The main issue that was supposed to be implemented by the diplomats from the two states after reunification was to solve further internal issues like the education reforms to teach students maxims issues. [8: Nelsson, R. (2019). German reunification: together into the great unknown - archive, October 1990. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2018/oct/05/german-reunification-october-1990] [9: Burda, M. C., & Weder, M. (2017). The economics of German unification after twenty-five years: Lessons for Korea (No. 2017-009). SFB 649 Discussion Paper.]

The issue of retaining communist teachers in the learning institutions had to be addressed. The politicians from West Germany addressed it vividly that communism will not be integrated in the state’s education framework because it was associated adverse impacts. On the other hand, most of the people from East Germany had an opinion that social reconciliation will be logical and complete if the East German people made unified efforts to unite and solve their past differences[footnoteRef:10]. An example of the final sorrowful moments experienced by Volkskammer is given when he exposes four cabinet ministers and sixty-five members of parliaments working as Stasi police intruder. There was a need to focus on the economic future of the two states and the healthcare and other social provisions maintenance. [10: Nelsson, R. (2019). German reunification: together into the great unknown - archive, October 1990. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2018/oct/05/german-reunification-october-1990]

Due to the high unemployment rate threatening two million people during the winter period after the economic recession, the reunification of the two states is crucial since it aided the easy movement of people and resources that will elevate the life of both citizens from the two states. The other challenge that necessitated the need to have peace between the two states is the increased crime rate in East Germany, a situation that affected West Germany[footnoteRef:11]. This forced the independent organizations dealing with welfare from both East and West Germany to take necessary actions to eradicate poverty since they had a fear that federal Germany will be regarded as the United Nation's poor house. The organizations maintained that despite significant allocation funds meant alleviate meant to alleviate Germany's Cohesiveness, Bonn has refused to maintain the Eastern Germany social services [footnoteRef:12]. The amount of money channeled to hospitals modernizing or the funds needed to ascertain continued existence of the manufacturing and processing firms were enough. The experts supported the move to reunifying the German states by stating ‘It will be women, children, old people, the handicapped and unemployed who will be the first to feel the gap between the welfare systems in the East and West.” [11: Schröder, N. (2019). Opinion: How eastern and western Germany still differ from each other. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.thelocal.de/20190207/a-germans-perspective-on-the-lasting-divide-between-east-and-west] [12: Burda, M. C., & Weder, M. (2017). The economics of German unification after twenty-five years: Lessons for Korea (No. 2017-009). SFB 649 Discussion Paper.]

Existence of the Cold War between the Two States

Despite the efforts put by relevant bodies from Eastern and Western Germany, the cold war exists to a certain level. I have an opinion that the communities and the relevant authorities from the two regions did not solve other important aspects interested by the two parties. One of the cold wars is depicted by students coming from the Eastern part leaning in the Western part of the German state. As depicted by the student’s interactions, they often inquire if they came from the East when they were leaning in the Western learning institutions. Many students did not like questions about their originality because it reminds them of the cold war that existed for almost twenty-five years. It implies a reminder or identification of students based on region or locality existed, showing that the cold war existed between the two Germany states[footnoteRef:13]. However, not all the students liked this kind of segregation, especially the students from the eastern part because the cold war had adverse effects on the eastern state prosperity and entire Germany. The cold war was mainly reinstated by the students from the western state since they had a poor perception of the well-being of Eastern Germany[footnoteRef:14]. There was a high dependence of Eastern German to West German than the vice versa, an aspect that made many westerners demonstrate subsistence conflicting stereotypes. [13: Schröder, N. (2019). Opinion: How eastern and western Germany still differ from each other. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.thelocal.de/20190207/a-germans-perspective-on-the-lasting-divide-between-east-and-west] [14: Burda, M. C., & Weder, M. (2017). The economics of German unification after twenty-five years: Lessons for Korea (No. 2017-009). SFB 649 Discussion Paper.]

Moreover, a second boundary was depicted because of housing differences between the west and east. The students had a poor experience with housing and accommodation offered in Leipzig. Giving houses to students was based on past stereotypes on the cold war that existed between the two states. Leipzig had both extremely old buildings and newer ones as one approaches the CBD[footnoteRef:15]. This is a common characteristic of many cities. No one took action to renovate the old buildings. Based on the student’s experiences, it was realized that the houses were not renovated because of unclear and unplanned ownership structures. On the other hand, the newer houses were associated with cliché in East Germany. Concurrently, the building types that existed in West Germany were not old to the Leipzig’s extent. The author has a thought that prefabricated buildings are the worst way of living, implying that people were living in Leipzig's live a miserable life. The city is in the eastern part of Germany, which implies most of the eastern citizens live a miserable life. [15: Schröder, N. (2019). Opinion: How eastern and western Germany still differ from each other. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.thelocal.de/20190207/a-germans-perspective-on-the-lasting-divide-between-east-and-west]

Diminishing Of the Differences between the Two States

A series of questions is possessed on whether the gap between the western and eastern states of Germany will be completely filled. The fact remains that eastern states had no alternative to embrace peace with their counterparts after the reunification process. After the massive war, the western state embraced capitalistic because they were regarded as the section of the Germany Federal Republic. On the other hand, the eastern states were in the GDR, which was also called East Germany authority. This implies that the people from the East had to adopt the advanced legislative processes adopted by the people from the west[footnoteRef:16]. The adoption process was slow, implying that it will take more time before it is completely integrated. There is no specified time when the gap will seize to exist, but most importantly, the gap will be less noticeable in the future years. The poor life in Leipzig, characterized by poor water or heating systems, is drastically changing. The city has adopted a high level of architectural skills and human level that has aided in building high quality houses with water and electricity systems. This is an indication that the gap will, at one point, eradicated in Germany through extensive reunification processes that result in massive eradication of pre assumptions that aid the reduction of cold war mood between the western and the eastern states. [16: Schröder, N. (2019). Opinion: How eastern and western Germany still differ from each other. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.thelocal.de/20190207/a-germans-perspective-on-the-lasting-divide-between-east-and-west]

Divide Diminishing but No Differences Realized In the Two States

A lot of efforts were put to decrease the gap that existed between the Northern and the Eastern states that existed for 25 years. These efforts were meant to realize economic prosperity in the two states through the free movement of people from one state to another that could propagate business transactions [footnoteRef:17].  The gap has been dramatically reduced, but economic challenges exist in the eastern and eastern states of the economy.  As per Germany's Federal data, poverty has never diminished in the two states, more so the eastern Berlin states. The people who live in East Germany are highly affected by poverty as compared to the people living in the former West Berlin. In 2018, 17.8 % of citizens in Eastern Germany, involving Berlin, were at a high risk of poverty[footnoteRef:18]. The German people in the western German data were at 15.3 %. This data depicts that the eastern people were highly affected by poverty despite enormous efforts put into reducing such economic externalities through unification. [17: Burda, M. C., & Weder, M. (2017). The economics of German unification after twenty-five years: Lessons for Korea (No. 2017-009). SFB 649 Discussion Paper.] [18: Burda, M. C., & Weder, M. (2017). The economics of German unification after twenty-five years: Lessons for Korea (No. 2017-009). SFB 649 Discussion Paper.]

Consumerism also exists despite the significant reduction in the gap. The daily cost for each consumer was high as per the data where it recorded to be $2587 for the former eastern region, whereas this was 80 % for the West German states as per the Federal statists [footnoteRef:19]. The consumer characteristics are almost similar in matters pertaining to clothing, food, and clothing; the households consume almost half of their total consumption. The other factors include economic development where economic progress is slower in Eastern Germany as compared to West Germany. The population growth was also approximately 82.8 million live in the eastern part. [19: Burda, M. C., & Weder, M. (2017). The economics of German unification after twenty-five years: Lessons for Korea (No. 2017-009). SFB 649 Discussion Paper.]

Conclusion

The gap exists between the eastern and western Germany despite subsistent efforts put by various officials to unify the state. This is ascertained by the high life cost experienced by the eastern people as compared to the western people. Besides, the poverty level and the level of economic development are slower in Eastern Germany as compared to Western Germany. This is mainly attributed to the type of economic design adopted by the states. The eastern state mainly adopted socialism, whereas the western state adopted capitalisms. The two approaches adopted had a significant impact on the economic prosperity of the two states. Germany's federal government can never make a decision to adopt socialism approaches in its economy because it was experimented and failed drastically during the cold word War States. The various pre assumptions channeled that describes the two states after the cold war affected their prosperity. Former East Germany was regarded as a poor state. This was characterized by poor facilities in the Leipzig city in Eastern Germany that had poor water and heat systems. This was mainly attributed to poor mechanisms resulted from socialism theory. However, after adopting the successful approaches adopted by the Western states, service delivery in the houses and other facilities improved[footnoteRef:20]. This depicts a significant impact the federal government achieved after successful unification. As evidenced, unification resulted in the adoption of a common system that resulted in economic property in the two states. [20: Schmidtke, O. (2017). Reinventing the nation: Germany's post-unification drive towards becoming a ‘country of immigration.' German Politics, 26(4), 498-515.]

References

Burda, M. C., & Weder, M. (2017). The economics of German unification after twenty-five years: Lessons for Korea (No. 2017-009). SFB 649 Discussion Paper.

Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Berlin Wall | Definition, Length, & Facts. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Berlin-Wall

Nelsson, R. (2019). German reunification: together into the great unknown - archive, October 1990. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2018/oct/05/german-reunification-october-1990

Schröder, N. (2019). Opinion: How eastern and western Germany still differ from each other. Retrieved 17 October 2019, from https://www.thelocal.de/20190207/a-germans-perspective-on-the-lasting-divide-between-east-and-west

Schmidtke, O. (2017). Reinventing the nation: Germany's post-unification drive towards becoming a ‘country of immigration.' German Politics, 26(4), 498-515.

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