Fall of the Berlin Wall
Kalin Kim 7th Period
Definition
The Berlin Wall was constructed by the German Democratic Republic on August 13, 1961 to cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and East Berlin. It was left standing until November 9, 1989 when the head of the East German Communist Party announced that citizens of the GDR could cross the border as they pleased. This announcement caused a big crowd to appear at night carrying hammers to chip away at the wall while others crossed freely into West Berlin.
Significance
The fall of the Berlin Wall was an important movement that serves as a symbol of the end of the Cold War. The fall brought peace to Germany and was united as a whole once more. East Berlin civilians no longer had to live in a communist system and some families were reunited with those on the West. It also brought a truce between the two superpowers and prevented them from dominating the world.