Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 is one of the most significant events of the 20th century. A symbol of the Cold War since its construction in 1961, the wall divided West Berlin (Western bloc) from East Berlin (communist) and prevented East Germans from fleeing to the West.
This historic night was the result of a context of gradual liberalisation in Eastern Europe: Gorbachev's reforms in the USSR (glasnost and perestroika), the Solidarity movement in Poland, and revolutions across Soviet bloc countries in 1989. When the East German government announced the opening of borders on the evening of 9 November, thousands of Berliners rushed to the checkpoints.
The fall of the Wall led to German reunification on 3 October 1990 and symbolised the end of the Cold War, sealed by the dissolution of the USSR in December 1991.
Key Events
On 9 November 1989, under popular pressure, East Germany opened its borders ; thousands of Berliners crossed and demolished the Wall in scenes of widespread joy.
On 3 October 1990, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was dissolved and its five states joined the Federal Republic, reunifying Germany after 45 years of division.