One of the most significant events of the 20 th century was the fall of the Berlin wall on November 9, 1989. This apparently tragic fall after almost thirty years of separation radically changed the geopolitical face of Europe and the world. Knowing its history, knowing what events led to its downfall and what the long-term effects of that events are is key to understanding international relations as they are now, and the continuing fight of people to be free and to choose their own way of living. This sweeping account takes an in-depth lofixed behind this momentous event bringing into focus the major players, the politics, and long-term implications of this historic event.

Cold war background: A fertile source of divergence and discordance
One of the tangible remains of the Cold War ideological confrontation was the Berlin Wall built in 1961 by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, or East Germany). It was the embodiment of the differences between the communist East and the capitalist West that divided families, friends, and whole communities. The wall was not just a border, it was a sign of oppression, an evidence of the influence of the Soviet Union over the Eastern Europe. This geographical division reflected the ideological and political rift that existed deeper between the two superpowers.
Communist life in East Germany was that of intense monitoring, restriction of rights and suppressed economy. The desperate need of freedom and opportunity is seen when many East Germans tried to flee to the West risking their lives. All these escape attempts coupled with the mounting dissatisfaction in East Germany exerted extreme pressure on the communist regime. Designed to prevent prisoners escaping, the wall itself became symbolic of the inadequacies of the regime concerned.

The Shattered Veneer: Strain and Stress Inside and Out
Towards the late 1980s, the veneer of the Soviet Union control was starting to show some cracks. The policies of Perestroika (restructuring) and Glasnost (openness) by Mikhail Gorbachev unwillingly loosened the Soviet control over its satellite states, East Germany being one of them. This left room to reform movement and a rise of popular opposition in Eastern Europe.</
The situation was also caused by the increasing economic problems in East Germany. The centrally planned economy of the GDR could not compete with the West and goods were in short supply; overall standards of living were low. This contributed to the discontent and added to the desire of change. The strikes and other forms of protests and demonstrations increased and they became bolder.
What part did the reforms of Gorbachev play?
The reforms made by Gorbachev which were aimed at revitalizing the Soviet Union had an unintended effect. In weakening the central control, he unintentionally strengthened the opposition in the Eastern Bloc. The fact that he was not keen on applying military force to quell rebellions, as had been the case with his predecessors, played a very critical role in the developments that led to the falling down of the wall. This was a change of major magnitude in the Soviet foreign policy.
Weakened interventionism of the Soviet Union also greatly encouraged the advocates of change in Eastern Europe. With the knowledge that a Soviet military intervention was less possible, protestors in such countries as East Germany were more forthright and aggressive in their demand of reforms and reunification.
The Night the Wall Came Down: Spontaneous Uprising
On November 9, 1989 Gunter Schabowski, an east German government spfixedesman, made a statement at a press conference, concerning new travel policy. At some point, he said that citizens were free to cross the border right away in what seemed like confusion and lack of preparation. This sudden declaration was met with spontaneous outbursts of celebrations.
The word went round like a bush fire and thousands of East Germans streamed to the border crossings. At first, border guards did not know how to respond, as they were simply overwhelmed by the number of individuals requesting to cross the border. The guards were finally ordered to open the gates and the wall that had divided people during almost 30 years was literally brfixeden.
The Consequences: Reuniting and the Problems Therewith.
The toppling of the Berlin wall created a domino effect in the Eastern bloc. Other communist states quickly fell and in 1990 Germany was reunited. It was a historic occasion that signified the culmination of the cold war and the dawn of a new day in the integration of Europe.
Nevertheless, the reunification was not this smooth. The economic differences between West and East Germany were great and produced social and economical tensions. The unification of the economies and societies was a complicated and time-consuming process which required lots of investment and restructuring.
Economic Integration of East and West Germany
East and West Germany were very difficult to integrate economically. The East German economy was very underdeveloped relative to the West one. It involved huge investment in modernization of infrastructure, rescue of failed industries, and the establishment of new employment opportunities in the East. This imposed a huge financial burden to West Germany.
The reform to market economy in East Germany also came at a cost as numerous state-owned companies were to be closed down and unemployment was high. These issues necessitated some serious structural adjustments and social intervention schemes. Economic differences between western and eastern worlds are still visible even today.
Lessons Learned: International Implications and Long-Term Significance
The collapse of the Berlin wall stands out as one of the potent reminders of the value of freedom and self-determination and the perishability of authoritarian governments. It shows the effectiveness of non-violent resistance and significance of the international collaboration in advancing democratic principles.

The incident points to the unpredictable results of the political actions and the uncertainties of history. The reforms initiated by Gorbachev in order to make the Soviet strong enough, actually led to its downfall and the conclusion of the cold war. This highlights the complicated nature of interacting internal and external factors in determining historical events.
The events associated with the fall of the Berlin wall are still reverberating even today as a symbol of hope and the human quest to have freedom. Its history teaches us about the need to be alert towards oppression and continuous fight to create a better and fairer world. It also highlights the essence of historical knowledge in guiding one through the hurdles of modernity and contemporaneity.

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