Schaefer Sagi author Columbia University. History Columbia University. History originator text Articles 2011 English It is widely accepted that the inter-German border was constructed by East German authorities to halt the emigration to the west, which had damaged the East German economy and undermined the East German state agencies' power. This article argues that this is an inaccurate understanding, which mistakenly treats perceptions and insights gained from studying the Berlin Wall as representative of the mostly rural border between East and West Germany. It emphasizes crucial transformations of frontier society during the 1950s, highlighting the important role of western as well as eastern policy in shaping them. European history 44 3 506 535 2011-09 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0008938911000410 http://hdl.handle.net/10022/AC:P:13257 NNC NNC 2012-05-21 11:48:46 -0400 2013-02-11 14:40:28 -0500 7261 eng