The memory of the Berlin Wall, its construction and fall disappears.
MOSCOW, November 07, 2019. In anticipation of the 30th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey devoted to Russian attitudes towards this historical event.
Berlin Wall: a forgotten story?
Almost every emancipated respondent knows or heard that the Berlin Wall fell thirty years ago (93%). Half of respondents say they are well aware about this event: mainly men (59%), persons aged 60 and over (64%), as well as those respondents who have higher education diplomas (62%).
Forty-four percent of respondents are aware but do not know any details about the event: mainly women (52%) and young respondents aged 18-34 (64-67%).
We know why but do not know who
Over the recent ten years the share of Russians who do not know or cannot specify the purpose of the construction of the Berlin Wall has decreased (36% in 2019 and 50% in 2009). At the same time, the share of those who think that the Berlin Wall is a form of border between the states has increased (from 3% in 2009 to 23% in 2019), although ten years ago Russians were more likely to consider that the Berlin Wall was needed to strengthen the positions of the USSR, to protect the communist regime from the Western influence and to prevent mass desertion (24% in 2009 and 12% in 2019). Fourteen percent of respondents also think that the construction of the Berlin Wall was important because of political disagreement and differences between capitalism and socialism; 12% say it was a manifestation of the Cold War and a consequence of redistribution of spheres of influence (in 2009 the share of those who shared this opinion was bigger (19%)).
As to those who initiated the construction of the Berlin Wall, Russian opinions have been stable over the recent ten years. Most of respondents do not know or fail to name exactly whose idea it was (60%). However the shares of those who say that those countries were Germany and the USSR have not changed (24%, for each, in 2009 and 2019). The number of those who think that the idea was introduced only by Germans, Germany or Berlin inhabitants has decreased from 10% in 2009 to 6% in 2019).
The reasons behind the fall of the Berlin Wall have been rethought by Russians over the recent ten years. First of all, this is shown by a decline in the share of Russians who cannot give any reasons (from 52% to 45%). Secondly, today more Russians are less likely to mention changes in political regime in the USSR, decline in its influence, Germans’ discontent and people’s desire to get united among reasons than they were in 2009. Russians are more likely to think that the fall of the Berlin Wall resulted from the ignorance of the Soviet leaders, in particular the Gorbachev’s decision (13%).
Attitudes of Russians towards the fall of the Berlin Wall
Generally the attitudes of Russians towards the fall of the Berlin Wall at the time of the event have been stable. There has been an increase in the share of those who report not to remember the exact reaction to the event in retrospect (27% in 2019; 23% in 2009; 22% in 2005). At the same time, the share of those Russians who did not witness this event, who were born later or fail to give an answer has increased.
Russians are more likely to say that they viewed the fall of the Wall positively back then (28% in 2019 and 32% in 2009 and 2005). About 11%-15% of respondents say that could not understand what was really happening at the time of the fall; 10%-14% saw both advantages and disadvantages in this event in different years; 4%-8% of respondents were negative about the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Today Russians are divided in their opinions on the fall of the Berlin Wall in terms of Russian national interest: over the recent ten years the share of those who are not sure what the fall of the Wall brought about to Russia –benefits or drawbacks - has substantially increased (from 26% in 2009 to 42% in 2019). However the number of Russians who see more benefits from the fall of the Berlin Wall has decreased from 44% in 2009 to 31% in 2019.
Forty-four percent of Russians view positively the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Germany. On the contrary, one-third of respondents are negative about that (28%); 23% are indifferent.
Russians have ambiguous views concerning the consequences of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Thirty-seven percent of Russians see more positive effects: mainly respondents aged 25 - 34 (45%). They are opposed by 35%: mainly men (44%) and older respondents. Every fifth respondent failed to express his/her opinion on this issue (21%).
Nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on November 3, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
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