The Ghosts of Berlin

I was glad to have to opportunity to read The Ghosts of Berlin by Brian Ladd to help further explain the history of Berlin and the significance of the Berlin Wall. I found his writing to be so detailed and descriptive which made it easy for me to understand the feelings of the Wall from Berliners, both east and west. The Wall stood for something more than just the division of political beliefs, therefore, once the Wall was taken down, the mixed feelings of the walls representation is understandable.

"The Wall became an unintentional monument to the remarkable era in which two rival states simultaneously claimed Berlin. The division marked by the Wall, in turn, grew out of the shattering era of German history that culminated in World War II. Thus the wall was built-- literally and figuratively-- atop the ruins of war, terror, and division. And it, too, is now among the ruins and memories of Berlin. The Wall-- from concrete, to monument, to rubble-- gives form to the story of Berlin and of Germany in our time"

I find it fascinating that a literal wall was created to separate to conflicting political ideologies. Furthermore, it was built in the middle of a city, separating the country. I try to imagine what it would be like to be either living or working in the center of Berlin before the Wall was put up and my devastation because of it. Not only did shops go out of business, but neighbors were separated. Not only would this event be confusing, but trying to corporate East Berlin after the Wall fell into a capitalist society in West Berlin would be difficult. The separation of the Berliners for such a period of time I can imagine deepen societal differences.