What was the function of the Berlin Wall when it was constructed in 1961?

• A. To facilitate trade between East and West Berlin
• B. To allow free travel for East German citizens
• C. To prevent East Germans from escaping to West Berlin
• D. To serve as a government building for Berlin

Answer: (C)

The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 primarily aimed to prevent East Germans from escaping to West Berlin. During the years preceding the wall's construction, many individuals from East Germany fled to the West in search of better economic opportunities and freedoms associated with the capitalist system. The wall became a symbol of the Cold War and the division between the communist East and democratic West. By erecting the wall, the East German government intended to stop this significant outflow of citizens, which threatened the stability of its regime and highlighted the shortcomings of life in East Germany. The existence of the wall enforced a strict divide and limited the movement of people, effectively making it difficult for East Germans to seek a better life in the West.