The Fall of the Berlin Wall
The wall that divided Berlin fell in 1989 and Germany reunified.
About this topic
After World War II, Germany and Berlin were divided into East (communist, Soviet-controlled) and West (democratic) zones. Many East Germans fled west through Berlin, so in August 1961 East Germany built the Berlin Wall, a heavily guarded barrier of concrete, barbed wire and watchtowers about 155 kilometres long around West Berlin. Hundreds died trying to cross, and it became a symbol of the Iron Curtain.
In the 1980s, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) and his refusal to use force to prop up satellite states encouraged reform. Poland's Solidarity trade union, led by Lech Walesa, won elections, Hungary opened its border with Austria, and East Germans left in thousands while mass peaceful protests, such as the Monday demonstrations in Leipzig, grew.
On November 9, 1989, after a confused announcement by an East German official about travel rules, crowds flooded checkpoints and the guards opened the gates; people danced on and chipped at the Wall. Germany was formally reunified on October 3, 1990. Other communist governments fell across Eastern Europe, and the USSR dissolved in 1991, ending the Cold War. Misconception: the Wall did not fall because of a single decision; years of economic failure and popular pressure made it possible. Reunification brought costs and gaps that took decades to narrow.
Key ideas
- Built 1961
- East Germans escaped
- Cold War thawed
Quick check
Use cases: where The Fall of the Berlin Wall helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind The Fall of the Berlin Wall before you start a problem set.
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Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Fall of the Berlin Wall?
The wall that divided Berlin fell in 1989 and Germany reunified.
What will I learn in The Fall of the Berlin Wall?
Built 1961. East Germans escaped. Cold War thawed.
Is The Fall of the Berlin Wall part of World History?
Yes. It is one of 80 World History topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the The Fall of the Berlin Wall lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study The Fall of the Berlin Wall?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
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