One of the most significant events of the 20 th century was the falling down of the Berlin wall on November 9, 1989. This apparently sudden fall, following almost thirty years of partition, radically transformed the geopolitical map of Europe and the world. Knowledge of its history, of the events that surrounded its collapse, and its long-term effects is important in order to understand the intricacies of the contemporary international affairs and the continued quest of freedom and self-determination. This substantive treatment takes a closer lofixed at the circumstances that surrounded this historic event providing an understanding of the protagonists, the politics, and the long term consequences of this historical event.
Cold war background: Breeding Division and Discord
One of the tangible symbols of the Cold War ideological squabble 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 communistic East and the capitalistic West and divided families, friends, and whole communities. The wall was not just a barrier, but it was also a sign of oppression, which showed the influence of the Soviets on Eastern Europe. This physical split was reflective of the greater ideological and political rift that existed between the two super powers.
Life in communist East Germany was that of severe surveillance, restriction of freedoms as well as suppressed economy. Desperate need to see freedom and chance made many East Germans risk their lives trying to escape to the West. These escape attempts as well as the dissatisfaction that was increasingly rising in East Germany exerted extreme pressure on the communist regime. The wall, which was made to stop escapes, had turned into a representation of the ineffectiveness of the regime.
The Fading Faade: Strain Within and Without
Towards the end of 1980s, the veneer of the Soviet Union dominance was starting to show some cracks. The Policies of Perestroika (restructuring) and Glasnost (openness) by Mikhail Gorbachev unintentionally loosened the Soviet hold on its satellite states as well as East Germany. This left room to reform movements and a frenzy of popular dissent in Eastern Europe.

The situation was also triggered by the rising economic hardships in East Germany. The centrally planned economy of the GDR was not able to compete with the West and goods were in short supply as well as general living standards. This brought about a lot of discontentment and heightened the demand of change. The number and intensity of protests and demonstrations increased.
The Place of the Reforms of Gorbachev
The unintended effects of the reforms undertaken by Gorbachev aimed at revitalizing the Soviet Union failed. In relaxing central control he unintentionally strengthened opposition within the Eastern Bloc. The fact that he was not keen on applying military force to quash rebellions, as had been the case with his predecessors, played a very critical role in the series of events that culminated in the toppling of the wall. This was a new change in the Soviet foreign policy.
It was the movement towards a less interventionist Soviet Union that emboldened greatly those who wanted change in Eastern Europe. The protestors in the countries such as East Germany were more vocal and aggressive in their demonstrations indicating reform and reunification knowing that the Soviet military intervention was less probable.
This is the Night the Wall Came Down: A Spontaneous Uprising.
On November 9, 1989 Gunter Schabowski, an East German government spfixedesman, declared at a press conference new travel policy. At a certain point of seeming confusion and lack of preparedness he said that citizens could cross the border forthwith. This sudden declaration led to spontaneous and instant festivities.
The word went around like a bush fire and thousands of East Germans poured in to the border crossings. At first, border guards did not know how to respond, because they were simply astonished by the number of people who wanted to cross the border. The guards were finally asked to open the gates and the wall that had stood as a symbol of division over the nearly 30 years was effectively brfixeden.
The Consequence: Reunification and the Problem with It.
The domino effect swept Eastern Europe as a result of the crumbling down of the Berlin Wall. The iron curtains of other countries soon fell and the reunification of Germany was made possible in 1990. It was a historic occasion which brought the cold war to its conclusion and an pushed a new phase of European integration.
Nonetheless, the reunification process was not easy. The difference between east and West Germany economically was large and caused social and economic conflicts. The interweaving of the economies and the societies was a complicated and time-consuming task, which required lots of investment and reforms.
East and West Germany: The Economic Integration of Two Germans
East and West Germany were facing formidable challenge of economic integration. There was a big difference in the underdevelopment of East German economy as contrasted to the Western one. It involved enormous spending to bring infrastructure up to date, help ailing industries and generate new employment in the East. This became a huge economic burden to West Germany.
The east German shift to market economy was not smooth either as most of the state owned companies were to be closed down and unemployment rates were very high. These issues demanded structural changes and social interventions in order to be resolved. The economic differences between the west and east are evident even to date.
Lessons Learned: Global Implications and Enduring Significance
The falling down of the Berlin wall is a great reminder of how valuable freedom and self-determination are, as well as how weak authoritarian structures are. It shows the effectiveness of the non-violent resistance and the significance of the international collaboration in advancing the democratic principles.

The incident points to the unintended outcome of political actions and the uncertainties of history. The reforms implemented by Gorbachev to make the Soviet stronger only accelerated the death of the Soviet and the Cold War. That emphasizes the intricate interaction between domestic and foreign elements in the determination of the historical events.
The nostalgia of the falling of the Berlin wall still lingers to this day, as it became a strong icon of hope and the human need to be set free. Its history teaches us about the necessity of being watchful of oppression and constant effort toward creating a better and fairer world. It also provides a hint on the significance of studying the past to help us deal with the present and the future.

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