The Berlin wall fell on November 9, 1989, and it is one of the most significant events of the 20 th century. This apparently sudden fall, following almost thirty years of division, transformed the geopolitical map of Europe and of the world dramatically. It is important to know its history, the events which culminated in its collapse and the repercussions which are being felt even today in order to understand better the international relations in modern times and the fight being witnessed in the quest of freedom and self-determination. This detailed treatment takes an inside lofixed into the intricacies of this moment of triumph, and provides an understanding of the main personalities, the political intrigues and the legacy of this epochal event.)
Cold War Background: Plants of Disunion and Discord
One of the tangible artifacts of the Cold War ideological confrontation was the Berlin Wall built in 1961 by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, or East Germany). It was a symbol of the huge difference between the communist East and the capitalist West, which divided families, friends and whole communities. The wall was not just a barrier, but it was also a sign of oppression, and it showed the influence that the Soviet Union had on Eastern Europe. This geographical partition reflected the greater ideological and political divide between the two super powers.
Communist East Germany is remembered by its residents as a place of stern surveillance, lack of liberties and suppressed economy. Desperate need of freedom and opportunity is evidenced by the fact that many East Germans were risking their lives in order to escape to the West. These escape attempts as well as the dissatisfaction that was mounting in East Germany exerted tremendous pressures on the communist regime. The wall which was supposed to keep people in became a reminder of the ineffectiveness of the regime.
The Fading Faade: Pressures Within and Without
Towards the last years of the 80s, the thin veneer of Soviet Union domination was starting to show some cracks. The policies of Perestroika (restructuring) and Glasnost (openness) introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev, unwittingly loosened the Soviet hold on its satellite states, East Germany being one of them. This left room to reform movements and explosions of popular opposition in Eastern Europe.

The situation was also caused by 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 due to central planning, which resulted in a general decrease in the standard of living. This stirred up a lot of discontent and heightened the need of change. Strikes and protests were increased and became bolder.
What was the Role of the Reforms of Gorbachev?
The reforms initiated by Gorbachev which aimed at reviving the Soviet Union backfired. Relaxing central control, he accidentally strengthened the opposition at the Eastern Bloc. The fact that he was not keen on employing military force in quelling rebellions as compared to his predecessors is an instrumental aspect in the build up to the fall of the wall. This became a very dramatic change in the Soviet foreign policy.
The movement toward a less interventionist Soviet Union meanwhile emboldened Eastern Europeans who wanted change greatly. Understanding that the Soviet military intervention was less probable, protestors in such countries as East Germany were emboldened and more vocal and active in their demands of reform and reunification.
The Night the Wall Came Down: A Spontaneous Uprising
On November 9, 1989 Gunter Schabowski, an East Germany government spfixedesman, discussed a new travel policy at a press conference. Citizens could cross the border straight away, he said in a twinkle of an eye or indeed in a state of seeming confusion and lack of preparation. This sudden declaration led to pure and instant celebrations.
The word spread like a bush fire and thousands of East Germans poured into the border crossings. At first, border guards did not know how to respond, as they were stunned by the mere number of individuals, who requested to pass through. After some time, the guards were ordered to open the gates and thus, the wall that had stood as a symbol of division nearly during the last thirty years was literally brfixeden.).
The Con sequel: Reunification and the Problems.
The toppling down of the Berlin wall resulted in a domino effect in Eastern Europe. Other communist states quickly disintegrated and in 1990 Germany was reunited. It was a historic occasion that led to the termination of the Cold War and a dawn of a new era of European integration.
The reunification process was not, however, challenge free. East and West Germany had vast differences in economic problems which caused social and economic conflicts. The meltdown of the economies and the merging of the societies was a complicated and time-consuming task and required lots of investment and reformation.
Economic Integration of East and West Germany
Eastern and Western Germany had a daunting task to integrate their economies. East German economy was very underdeveloped in relation to the West one. It involved huge investment to bring modernization to the infrastructure, prop up ailing industries and generate new employment in the East. This caused huge economic burden to West Germany.

Transformation of East Germany to a market economy was not smooth as well since most of the state owned firms were to be closed down and unemployment rates were very high. To fight these problems, structural changes and social intervention schemes were necessary. Economic difference between the East and the West is still evident to date.
Lessons Learned: International Implications and Long-Term 4 Significance
The falling down of the wall of Berlin can be regarded as a very strong reminder of the value of freedom and self-determination and how unstable the authoritarian governments can be. It shows the effectiveness of non-violent resistance and significance of international cooperation in establishment of democratic values.

The incident demonstrates the unpredictable outcomes of the political actions and the unexpected turns of history. The reforms initiated by Gorbachev to make the Soviet Union stronger actually led to its weakening and subsequent collapse, which ended the cold war. This highlights the convoluted nature of the interaction between internal and external factors to historic events.
The toppling of the Berlin wall is still echoed in these modern times as a very strong icon of hope and the human spirit of freedom which always prevails. Its history teaches us that we must be watchful of oppression and that we are still striving to create a better and fairer world. It highlights the relevance of learning history in order to deal with the blows of the present and the future.

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