jbutcher
The Bleak Buildings of East Berlin
Photo taken on 17 June 2006 by Joshua Butcher
Unlike West Berlin, which flourished after World War Two, East Berlin under communist rule did not do so well. West Berlin had capital coming in from the United States and laborers coming over from East Berlin so it was able to get back on its feet rather quickly. East Berlin on the other hand, even to this day as evident from this photo, was bleak and deserted. There were no frills on the buildings, no shops or markets, everything in the communist system belonged to the state. Prices of food skyrocketed while wages and living conditions plummeted. Also, a gradual loss of intellectual freedom was taking place in East Berlin, they were being told more and more that certain plays, books, music and etc. were not permitted. However, in Allied controlled West Berlin, business boomed, industry found a place to prosper and market their goods and a demand for goods pushed wages up fast. And finally, West Berliners enjoyed the freedom to go to cultural shows and activities such as plays and concerts. It’s no wonder people were willing to risk their lives to escape to West Berlin and why the Soviets saw a need to build a wall to protect the “stability” of East Berlin.
Epler, Doris M. The Berlin Wall: How it Rose and Why it Fell. Brookfield: Millbrook Press,1992.
The Bleak Buildings of East Berlin
Photo taken on 17 June 2006 by Joshua Butcher
Unlike West Berlin, which flourished after World War Two, East Berlin under communist rule did not do so well. West Berlin had capital coming in from the United States and laborers coming over from East Berlin so it was able to get back on its feet rather quickly. East Berlin on the other hand, even to this day as evident from this photo, was bleak and deserted. There were no frills on the buildings, no shops or markets, everything in the communist system belonged to the state. Prices of food skyrocketed while wages and living conditions plummeted. Also, a gradual loss of intellectual freedom was taking place in East Berlin, they were being told more and more that certain plays, books, music and etc. were not permitted. However, in Allied controlled West Berlin, business boomed, industry found a place to prosper and market their goods and a demand for goods pushed wages up fast. And finally, West Berliners enjoyed the freedom to go to cultural shows and activities such as plays and concerts. It’s no wonder people were willing to risk their lives to escape to West Berlin and why the Soviets saw a need to build a wall to protect the “stability” of East Berlin.
Epler, Doris M. The Berlin Wall: How it Rose and Why it Fell. Brookfield: Millbrook Press,1992.