The Berlin Wall sliced East Berlin and West Berlin after World War II. It was built in 1961, by the Soviet-ruled East German Government to stop the people from fleeing to West Berlin. Millions of people moved to West in the hope of a better future. The wall stood for 28 years, and it divided families and took away basic human rights, keeping the population of East Berlin trapped inside Soviet territory. The 12 feet tall concrete wall was fortified with watchtowers, electric fences, and armed guards. Over five thousand people managed to cross the wall in three decades and more than 100 are believed to have been killed in the attempt.
As the 1980s were ending the communism in Europe was weakening and its grip on the Eastern block was slipping. The period is often also called the Fall of Communism. Revolutions in Poland and Hungary paved the way for massive demonstrations in East Germany, which ultimately resulted in the demise of the Wall. After several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government opened its borders with West Germany on November 9, 1989. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the Wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. They swarmed the wall, pulling parts of it down with hammers and machinery. The demolition of the Wall officially began on 13 June 1990 and was completed in November 1991.
Here below are some amazing photos that capture the historic moments of German reunification.
