When the Berlin Wall went up, rising political leaders in the developing world saw Soviet Communism as the future. Men like Fiedel Castro committed to the Soviets. Many other committed to Soviet policies. The alure of raod development attracted many. But so did the idea of dictatorship and permanent control of power. Largely unseen at the time was the degree to which West Berlin was developing avibrant free economy as was West Germany while East Berlin and East Germany were growing economic failures. Actually East Germany was the most successful part od the Soviet Empire. But it pailed in camparison to the German economic Miracle. In fairness, the West Germans supported West Berlin, but West Germany was a huge economic success. And only the Wall which year by year the East Germnans made increasingly deadly, prevented large numbers of East Germans from defecting to the West. And the bright lights of a vibrant free city was in sharp conterast to grey, crumbing East Berlin. This was apparent to both Berliners and Germans. Outside of Germany opinions varied in Europe. There was very substantial support for socialist thought and even admiration of the Soviets. Few understood the very significant economic problems developing in the Soviet Union. Or for that matter the economic problems that Socialism was laying for the European future. Gradually the focus of the Cold War shifted away from Berlin. But no where else was the character of Soviet opression and the failure of Communism so apparent. Willie Brandt's Ost-Politik attempted to deal with the East Germans, but did nothing to change the character of the East German regime or situation in Berlin. Ideology convinced many. A secrets could be cocealed in the Gulag. But the Wall could not be hidden and Soviet propaganda could never explain it.
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