I'm an expert in modern history with a particular focus on the Cold War era. I can provide you with a detailed account of the construction of the Berlin Wall and the reasons behind it. The Berlin Wall was ordered by the government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), also known as East Germany. The decision to build the wall was a response to the mass emigration of East Germans to West Germany and the broader capitalist world, which was seen as a significant threat to the socialist state's legitimacy and economic stability. Step 1: English Answer The Berlin Wall, one of the most potent symbols of the Cold War, was ordered constructed by the East German government under the direction of its leader, Walter Ulbricht. The decision to build the wall was a complex one, rooted in the geopolitical tensions of the time and the ideological divide between the communist East and the capitalist West. The immediate catalyst for the wall's construction was the ongoing "brain drain" from East to West Germany. After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones, controlled by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union, respectively. From these zones, two separate German states emerged: the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), aligned with the West, and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), a satellite state of the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin, though physically located within East Germany, was also divided into East and West, each controlled by different Allied powers. This unique situation made Berlin a microcosm of the broader Cold War struggle, with each side vying for ideological and political supremacy. Throughout the 1950s, East Germany experienced significant economic challenges, including labor shortages due to the migration of skilled workers to West Germany. This migration was facilitated by the open border between East and West Berlin, which allowed East Germans relative freedom of movement. By the early 1960s, the exodus had reached alarming levels, with thousands leaving each month. The East German government viewed this mass emigration as a grave threat. Not only was it losing valuable human capital, but the constant flow of people to the West also undermined the legitimacy of the socialist state in the eyes of its own citizens. The situation was further exacerbated by the fact that many of those leaving were young, educated professionals, which had a profound impact on East Germany's ability to develop and maintain a competitive economy. In August 1961, the East German government, with the approval of the Soviet Union, which was the dominant power in the Eastern Bloc, decided to seal off the border between East and West Berlin. The order to begin construction of the wall was issued by Erich Honecker, the Minister of Interior at the time, and it was carried out by the East German military and workers under the direction of the Socialist Unity Party (SED). The wall's construction began on the night of August 13, 1961. Barbed wire and fences were quickly erected, and over the following months, these were replaced by a more permanent and formidable structure: a concrete barrier topped with razor wire and guarded by armed sentries. The wall effectively cut off West Berlin from the rest of East Germany, dividing families, friends, and coworkers. The decision to build the wall was a clear message to both the West and the citizens of East Germany. It was a demonstration of the East German government's commitment to preserving the socialist state, regardless of the human cost. It also served as a deterrent to those considering fleeing, as the wall made it far more difficult and dangerous to attempt to cross the border. The wall's construction was a significant escalation in the Cold War and was met with international condemnation, particularly from the United States and other Western countries. It became a powerful symbol of the division between the communist and capitalist worlds and the human rights abuses perpetrated by the communist regime. The Berlin Wall stood for 28 years, during which time it was continuously expanded and fortified. It was not until the late 1980s, as the Soviet Union began to disintegrate and the Cold War drew to a close, that the conditions for the wall's eventual dismantling were set. In November 1989, following a series of reforms and protests in East Germany, the government announced that citizens would be allowed to travel freely to the West, leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Step 2: Divider read more >>

The order is documented by a protocol of a telephone conversation Khrushchev had with Walter Ulbricht, head of the East German Politburo, less than two weeks before the Wall was built.Jun 2, 2009read more >>