End of Mass Migration

Sealing the border

Consequences

Support for the Wall

Factors of fear

Sealing the border by GDR authorities was an abrupt end to migration from East to West.

Several hundred 'escapees' were killed at the border between 1961 and 1989.

At least 136 were killed in the Wall's shadow and over 500 more at GDR border crossings outside of Berlin.

There were few mass demonstrations within the GDR in the immediate aftermath of the Wall's construction.

Secret and efficient, called Operation Rose. Led to widespread shock and disbelief as well as an element of fear.

Many GDR citizens had memories of Soviet reaction to 1953 uprising.

Many wanted to avoid provoking the government into further repression.

Wider, more extensive Stasi force present.

Rearmament of FRG and GDR since mid 1950s led to widespread fear of international conflict or war between the two states.

Within the GDR there was some resentment of border-crossers who lived in East Berlin but worked in West Berlin.

This meant they could access Western goods.

Resentment towards West Berliners who used East Berlin to buy government-subsidised basics that were cheaper than in the FRG.

There was no clear opposition from the West to encourage the risks incurred from protesting.

The Wall stopped these people taking advantage and made many others, who didn't have these opportunities, happier.

The division was fixed regardless of Western diplomatic complaints or the hopes of the GDR people.

People had to accept the situation. The psychological impact encouraged many to conform, co-operate and sometimes collaborate with the SED for a better socialist future.

Authorities increased repression to those they thought would yield to Western temptations like reluctant farmers to collectivisation, people whose aerials picked up Western media.

The increased state control suppressed any large-scale opposition of the Wall. SED had solved emigration issue, could plan economic strategies with a guaranteed labour supply, aimed to show what socialism could achieve.