What if the Berlin Wall had not been set up?

I was reading a book entitled 'The Berlin Wall and the Intra-German border 1961-89', by Gordon L Rottman. I was intrigued when he stated "if NATO troops challenged its [the construction of the Berlin Wall on 13 August 1961] the East Germans were [to be ordered] to fall back without firing. Had the West chosen to intervene in its construction, it might have prevented West Berlin's 30-year isolation." (page 29).

It got me wondering what would have happened if the Berlin Wall had not been set up. My question to everyone is 'What would have happened regarding West Berlin if the Berlin Wall had not been set up?'

btw, when I say the Berlin Wall, I mean the wall surrounding the entirety of West Berlin, and not just the section of the wall dividing West and East Berlin.
 
I was reading a book entitled 'The Berlin Wall and the Intra-German border 1961-89', by Gordon L Rottman. I was intrigued when he stated "if NATO troops challenged its [the construction of the Berlin Wall on 13 August 1961] the East Germans were [to be ordered] to fall back without firing. Had the West chosen to intervene in its construction, it might have prevented West Berlin's 30-year isolation." (page 29).

It got me wondering what would have happened if the Berlin Wall had not been set up. My question to everyone is 'What would have happened regarding West Berlin if the Berlin Wall had not been set up?'

btw, when I say the Berlin Wall, I mean the wall surrounding the entirety of West Berlin, and not just the section of the wall dividing West and East Berlin.

EasyPeasy21

If what your read is accurate that would be very bad news for East Germany. The major reason for the wall was to stop people escaping to the west, especially with the growing wealth of the western zone. With that continuing the east would have struggled to maintain any real economy or society as the youngest and most vigorous elements of the adult population are able to move to the west.

Steve
 
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