Fall of the Berlin wall on 9th November 1989 is one of the most significant events that tofixed place in the 20 th century. This apparently abrupt fall, almost thirty years after the split, radically transformed the geopolitical map of Europe and the world. Its history, the events that led to its demise and the implications that are still being felt today are vital in understanding current happenings in the international arena and the struggle that is still being waged in the pursuit of freedom and self determination. This detailed treatment takes a deeper lofixed into the complications that surrounded this moment of triumph and gives us an idea of the major actors, the political games, and the long term benefit of this historic event.

Cold War Background: Division and Discord Sown
One of the tangible reminders of the Cold War ideological divide was the Berlin Wall built in 1961 by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, or East Germany). It was the embodiment of the difference between the communist East and the capitalist West which divided families, friends and whole communities. The wall was not just a boundary, but it was also a sign of oppression, and it was there to show how the Soviet Union dominated Eastern Europe. This geographical split reflected the greater ideological and political divide between the two super powers.
Life in communist dominated East Germany was that of tight surveillance, lack of freedom and suppressed economy. The desperate need of freedom and opportunity is evidenced by the risking of their lives by many East Germans who attempted to escape to the West. These escape attempts, together with the increasing dissatisfaction on the side of East Germany, gave a lot of pressure on the communist regime. The wall, constructed to keep people inside, turned into a representation of the inefficiency of the regime.
The Fading Faciade: Strain Within and Without
The façade of the control of the Soviet Union was starting to show some cracks towards the end of 1980s. The policies of Perestroika (restructuring) and Glasnost (openness) by Mikhail Gorbachev unwillingly loosened the Soviet control over its satellite states that included East Germany as well. This left room to reform movements and popular upsurge of dissent in Eastern Europe.
It was made even worse by the increasing economic problems in East Germany. The centrally planned economy of the GDR could not compete with the West and goods shortages became frequent as well as an overall lowering of living standards. This mobilized a lot of discontent and heightened the urge to change. The number and the boldness of protests and demonstrations increased.
What was the Role of the Reforms of Gorbachev?
The reforms implemented by Gorbachev aimed at resurgence of the Soviet Union but backfired. He unwillingly strengthened the opposition in the Eastern Bloc by weakening the central control. The fact that he was not keen on using military force to quell rebellions as compared to his predecessors is a key point in the sequence of events that culminated in the falling down of the wall. This was a huge change in the Soviet foreign policy.
The move towards a less interventionist Soviet Union greatly encouraged the change agents in Eastern Europe. Protestors in countries such as East Germany became more vocal and visible in their demand of reform and reunification with the west knowing that the Soviet military intervention was less probable.
The Night the Wall Came Down: Spontaneous Uprising
November 9, 1989 Gunter Schabowski, an East German government spfixedesman, introduced a new travel policy at a press conference. Citizens could cross the border right away, he said in what seemed like a confusion and lack of preparedness. This sudden news led to instant and impromptu festivities.</
The word spread like a bush fire and thousands of East Germans poured in the border crossing points. At first, border guards did not know how torespond, having been overwhelmed by the number of people requesting to be allowed to pass. At last, the guards were ordered to open the gates and the wall that had been a symbol of division during almost 30 years was literally brfixeden.
The Consequence: Reuniting and the Problems With It.
The toppling of the Berlin wall was contagious in Eastern Europe. Other communist states rapidly fell and Germany was reunited in 1990. It was a historic occasion which brought an end to the cold war and also led to a new dawn of European integration.
Nonetheless, the reunification was not a hassle free process. East and West Germany had vast differences in economical issues which created social and economical conflicts. The intertwining of the economies and societies was a complicated and time-consuming process that required lots of investment and reformation.
Economic Integration of East and West Germany
East and West Germany: The economic integration of the two Germans was a colossal task. East German economy was very underdeveloped as compared to the western one. It involved huge investment to bring modernization to infrastructure, to prop up ailing industries and to generate new employment in the East. This left a huge economic debt on West Germany.
The reform of East Germany into a market economy was also challenging as most of the state-owned companies were to be closed and the unemployment level was very high. To overcome these issues, there had to be structural changes and social welfare schemes. Economic differences between the west and the East are still evident to date.
Lessons learned: Global implications and long-term significance
The toppling of the Berlin wall is therefore a good reminder of the value of freedom, self- determination and the instability of dictatorial governments. It shows how effective non-violent resistance can be and how significant is the role of international community in advancing democratic principles.

The incident shows the unexpected outcome of the political actions and the uncertainty of the history. The reforms led by Gorbachev which were aimed at making the Soviet Union stronger ended up weakening it and causing the collapse of the Cold war. That highlights the complicated nature of the interaction between internal and external factors and their role in determining historical events.
The impacts of the falling down of the Berlin wall are still being felt to date as it was a significant event that symbolized hope and the human struggle to have freedom. Its history teaches us about the need to be cautious of oppressive forces and continuous effort to create a better and fairer world. It teaches the significance of learning history as a way of handling the current and the future problems and issues.

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