What was the main purpose of the Berlin Wall when East Germany built it in 1961?

The main purpose of the Berlin Wall was to stop emigration from East Germany to the West.

Before the Wall was built, millions of East Germans had left through Berlin, where the border was easier to cross than elsewhere. This movement drained East Germany of workers, professionals, and young people. East German authorities called the barrier an “Antifascist Protection Rampart,” claiming it defended socialism against Western threats, but its practical function was to prevent citizens from leaving.

The barrier did not simply separate East and West Berlin politically; it restricted the movement of East German residents. West Berliners and Western visitors were generally allowed to enter or leave through controlled crossings, while East Germans faced severe penalties for unauthorized escape. The Wall therefore became a highly visible symbol of the wider Cold War division between communist Eastern Europe and the Western alliance.