Berlin Wall, November 1989. Image: Yann / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Source.
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When the Second World War ended in 1945, Germany was divided into occupation zones controlled by the victorious Allied powers. Berlin, although located inside the Soviet-controlled eastern zone, was itself divided. Political tensions soon hardened into the Cold War, and two German states emerged: West Germany and communist East Germany. For years, large numbers of East Germans left through Berlin, creating a serious problem for the East German government. In August 1961, authorities abruptly closed the border and began constructing what became the Berlin Wall. Streets were cut, families were separated and transport links were disrupted. The barrier developed into a heavily guarded system of walls, fences, watchtowers and restricted zones. People nevertheless attempted dangerous escapes by tunnels, hidden compartments, balloons and other methods; some were killed trying to cross. By the late 1980s, communist governments across Eastern Europe were under growing pressure. On 9 November 1989, an East German official gave a confused announcement about new travel rules. Crowds gathered at border crossings, and guards, lacking clear instructions, eventually opened the gates. Berliners celebrated on and around the Wall, and people began breaking pieces from it. Germany formally reunified in October 1990. The Wall's fall became a powerful symbol of the ending Cold War order in Europe.
