360The Berlin Wall falls
On the night of 9 November 1989, East Germany opened its border crossings, and crowds poured through the Berlin Wall, which had divided the city since 1961. People celebrated on top of the wall and began chipping pieces away. Less than a year later, on 3 October 1990, Germany was reunified.
After the Second World War, Germany was divided. Berlin, deep inside East Germany, was also split. In August 1961, East German authorities built a wall to stop people leaving for the West. It stood for 28 years.
In 1989, pressure for change grew across Eastern Europe. Large peaceful demonstrations took place in East German cities.
On the evening of 9 November 1989, an East German official announced at a press conference that citizens could cross the border, and said the rule applied immediately. Thousands of people gathered at the crossings, and guards opened the gates. Berliners from both sides met, celebrated and climbed onto the wall.
Over the following months, the wall was taken down. East and West Germany were reunified on 3 October 1990, now Germany's national day. Sections of the wall remain as memorials, and pieces are displayed in museums around the world.
- 13 August 1961
- Construction of the wall begins
- 9 November 1989
- Border opens
- 3 October 1990
- German reunification
Sources: Berlin Wall Memorial · Britannica · Deutsche Welle.