Why was the Berlin Wall built ?

The Berlin Wall was a physical barrier that was constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, or East Germany) in 1961 to seal off the eastern part of Berlin from the western part. The wall was built in response to the massive influx of people from the eastern part of the city, who were fleeing to the western part to escape the oppressive and economically stagnant conditions in East Germany.

Before the wall was built, Berlin was a divided city, with the western part controlled by the Western Allies (the United States, the United Kingdom, and France) and the eastern part controlled by the Soviet Union. In the years following World War II, the Soviet Union had established a communist government in East Germany and the other Eastern European countries it occupied. The Western Allies, on the other hand, had established a democratic government in West Germany and other Western European countries.

As a result of the division of the city, many people living in East Berlin were attracted to the higher standard of living and greater freedoms in the western part of the city. This led to a steady stream of people crossing the border into West Berlin, which was a major concern for the East German government. In an effort to stem the flow of people, the East German government began building the Berlin Wall in 1961.