The fall of the Wall on November 9, 1989, marked the end of an era and symbolized the reunification of Germany and the triumph of freedom over division. As we mark the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, it's time to look back at its story from its rise to its fall in photos and videos.
Visual Memories of Berlin: From Construction to the Fall of the Wall
When and How the Berlin Wall Was Built
The Berlin Wall was constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) beginning on August 13, 1961, primarily to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West amid Cold War tensions. Originally, the wall started as a barbed wire fence erected almost overnight, followed by a more substantial concrete wall a few days later.
Over time, this simple barrier evolved into a complex system that included two concrete walls separated by a heavily fortified “death strip,” or in German “Todesstreifen.” It contained guard towers, electrified fences, and anti-vehicle trenches, which all of them mostly had one aim: discouraging escape attempts.
The wall divided Berlin until its fall on November 9, 1989, when political changes and widespread protests led to the border’s opening. Its construction was driven by East Germany’s goal to stem the tide of migration that was weakening its economy, while the wall’s fall symbolized the end of the Cold War.