why did they build the berlin wall

The Berlin Wall was built primarily by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in 1961 to stop the mass emigration of its population to West Berlin and West Germany, which were controlled by Western Allies. After World War II, Germany and Berlin were divided into occupation zones, with East Berlin under Soviet control and West Berlin controlled by the US, UK, and France. Over time, many East Germans became unhappy with living conditions under the communist regime and used the open border in Berlin to flee to the West, causing a "brain drain" and labor shortages that threatened East Germany's economy and political stability. The wall was constructed to physically prevent these escapes, solidify political control, and halt the economic and social damage caused by the migration. East Germany officially called it the "Anti-Fascist Protective Wall," framing it as protection from Western aggression, but it effectively became a barrier symbolizing the Cold War divide and the repression of East German citizens. The wall included concrete structures, watchtowers, and a guarded "death strip," making escape attempts dangerous. It stood as a symbol of the Cold War until it fell in 1989 amid political changes in Eastern Europe.