In what ways was life in East Berlin different from life in West Berlin 1961-1989?

1. In what ways was life in East Berlin different from life in West Berlin 1961-1989? Cold War Coursework: Question 2

2. West Berlin DEMOCRATIC The government was there to protect people’s individual FREEDOM and RIGHTS. It did not try to control every aspect of people’s lives, but did provide services to help them, e.g. schools, hospitals. East Berlin SOCIALIST (COMMUNIST) The government attempted to control every aspect of life in East Germany (DDR) in order to speed up the coming of COMMUNISM when everyone would be equal, working together, with no need for any government. Government

3. West Berlin Ordinary police force to fight crime. East Berlin STASI – Staatssicherheit (Ministry of State Security) – secret police run by Erich Mielke. Spied on its own people – 90,000 full time agents. Socialist government relied on Stasi as could not give the people the good Communist life they had promised them. BERLIN WALL – built by East German government supposedly to protect their people from West Germany/Berlin, but really to stop East Germans escaping to the West. State Security

4. West Berlin CAPITALISM – driven by the profit (wanting to make money). People were free to set up and run their own businesses – had to make a success of it themselves (advertising, high quality products). West Germany (BRD) became very rich (high standard of living) – most people owned their own home and car and modern household goods. West Berlin rebuilt as a modern city – big shops (KDW), apartments & houses. Some unemployment and people expect to look out for themselves. East Berlin COMMUNISM – providing everyone with the work and resources they need. Socialist government ran almost all industry. Everyone was guaranteed a job. East Germany (DDR) remained poor (low standard of living) – constant shortages of products – long waiting lists East Berlin remained a shabby, city – many buildings not properly repaired after WWII; low quality tower blocks built to deal with workers’ housing. People were encouraged to see themselves as part of a close knit community. Economy & Environment

5. West Berlin Free media, not controlled by the government, but run by privately owned broadcasting businesses. Government provided schools for all, but there were private ones as well. East Berlin All media controlled by the government – used to produce government propaganda (e.g. The Television Tower – tallest building in Berlin). Government provided schools for all and set up a youth organisation - FDJ – all the best jobs went to people who had done well in the FDJ. Media, Education & Propaganda

6. West Berlin DEMOCRATIC CAPITALIST FREE INDIVIDUALISTIC RICH MODERN (REBUILT) East Berlin COMMUNIST SPIED ON CLOSE KNIT POOR RUN DOWN (WAR DAMAGED) Comparison of West and East Berlin

7. How to organise your answer • Compare the differences between the two sides of Berlin – government & state security; economy & environment; media, education & propaganda – a paragraph on each difference, explaining how each of them is linked to other differences as you go along. • Reach a conclusion which explains which difference is the most important one, i.e. the one to which all the others are connected.

8. After the wall came down… The old wall zone has now been transformed into a new futuristic city centre for Berlin.