The Fall of The Berlin Wall

Events that shook the world

The Berlin Wall was a wall that separated the eastern and western parts of the Germany’s capital city Berlin for nearly three decades in the mid-20th century.

Not just physically, it also ideologically divided both parts.

Why was it made?

After the end of World War II in Europe, the four victorious Allied powers, the U.S, U.K, France and the Soviet Union divided the defeated Germany into four zones and took control of one zone each. 

On the similar lines, Berlin was also divided between East and West with the Western powers occupying the Western portion and the Soviet Union occupying the East.

The communist rule left majority of the East Germans dissatisfied with their lives and they started migrating to West Germany for better prospects.

To halt this exodus, the East German authorities decided to build a wall.

How it came into being?

Construction of the wall commenced on 13th Aug. 1961.

On completion, its total length was 168 kms. long. It was fortified with barbed wires, guard towers, machine gun emplacements, and mines.

A Risky business!

Despite the building of the wall, thousands of East Germans attempted to cross over to the West Berlin.

While some succeeded in doing so, thousands were captured and about 200 lost their lives. 

’The unthinkable happened!’

The year 1989 saw the beginning of political changes in Eastern Europe.

It also brought civil unrest in East Germany and forced the authorities to allow their citizens‍ to cross the border into West Germany on Nov. 9, 1989.

It resulted in thousands of cheering people gathering across the wall.

While many crossed freely into West Berlin, others brought hammers to tear it down. 

The official demolition of the Wall began on 13th June 1990 and was completed in 1992. 

The wall’s fall paved the way for German reunification, which formally took place on 3 Oct. 1990.

Even though it has ceased to exist, the Berlin Wall will forever remain one of the most powerful and enduring symbols of the #Cold War.

# (The Cold War was an open yet controlled rivalry that developed after World War II between the U.S and the Soviet Union and their respective allies.

It was fought on military, political, economic, and propaganda fronts.)

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