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When Did the Berlin Wall Fall?

HistoryPolitics

Quick Answer

The Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989, when East Germany opened its borders after weeks of mass protests.

The Full Story

On the evening of 9 November 1989, East German government spokesman Günter Schabowski mistakenly announced at a press conference that citizens could cross the border "immediately, without delay." Thousands of East Berliners rushed to the checkpoints, and overwhelmed guards, having received no official orders, eventually opened the gates. Jubilant crowds from both sides climbed atop the wall, embraced, and began chipping away at the concrete with hammers. The wall had divided Berlin for 28 years, since its construction on 13 August 1961. Its fall accelerated German reunification, which was formally completed on 3 October 1990.

Key Facts

1.The Berlin Wall was about 155 km long and up to 3.6 metres tall, reinforced by guard towers, barbed wire, and a "death strip."
2.An estimated 140 people died trying to cross the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1989.
3.Pieces of the Berlin Wall have been distributed worldwide; fragments are displayed in over 50 countries.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The Night the Berlin Wall Fell — 9 November 1989"