Physical political barriers refer to physical structures or boundaries that separate two political entities, often erected for the purpose of controlling movement or preventing interaction between them. In the context of East and West Germany, these barriers were erected during the Cold War to separate communist East Germany from democratic West Germany.
Related terms
Iron Curtain: The term "Iron Curtain" refers to the ideological and physical barrier that separated Western Europe (capitalist) from Eastern Europe (communist) during the Cold War.
Berlin Wall: The Berlin Wall was a concrete barrier built by East Germany in 1961 to physically divide East and West Berlin, serving as a symbol of Cold War tensions.
Border Checkpoints: These are designated areas along borders where people crossing into another country must present their identification documents and go through security checks before being allowed entry.