The toppling of the Berlin Wall is among the most legendary occasions of the 20 th century, representing the conclusion of the cold-war together with the unification of Germany. Yet on what date did this historic event take place? To know the exact dates and the circumstance under which it happened, a mere date is not enough, but a thorough investigation of the political, social, and economical pressures that caused its destruction must be implemented. In this posting, I will discuss not just the date but events in the run-up to this crucial point in history.

The Date: 9 November 1989
The Iron Curtain existed physically as the Berlin Wall which was brought down on November 9, 1989. This date is not just a historical note, it is the milestone in the world policy and the beacon of hope in the world of freedom and democracy. Nonetheless, what happened that night was spontaneous and out of order, and it happened in such a manner that even the participants of the decision-making process did not anticipate. The physical removal of the wall would last several months, yet November 9th is the date of the start of the end.

The Years Before: Years of Change.
The wall did not come down spontaneously, it was the result of years of festering unrest and political jostling. During the 1980s, a combination of rising economic stagnation and rising exposure to Western media and lifestyles via television and radio Stirred discontents amongst the citizens of East Germany. What started as small and sporadic protests and demonstrations began to close in and the pressure mounted on the communist regime was overwhelming. The reforms in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Gorbachev called Perestroika and Glasnost further loosened the hold of the East Germany government on power.
Reforms of Gorbachev and their consequences
The policies of Gorbachev which were meant to reform the Soviet Union had unintended effects. His action to weaken the Soviet Union hold on its satellite states unwittingly encouraged East Germany dissidents and reformers. The fact that Soviet Union would not send armed forces to East Germany in order to support the locals regime eliminated a key component of deterrence, and the communist government could be easily affected by the internal forces. This shift in Soviet policy was perhaps the biggest trigger in the death of the wall.

Public Discontent in East Germany The beginnings of discontentment among the population in East Germany can be traced to its rise in the late 1980s.
The citizens of East Germany grew more and more irritated by the limitations the communist government put on them. People were frustrated because of the limited possibilities to travel, the lack of goods, and the absence of basic freedoms. The attempts to escape, which were usually dangerous and fatal, served as the steady reminder of the repressing character of the regime. These, along with the apparent success of West Berlin, created a desire of change that could not be quieted anymore.</p
The November 9 th Events: The Night of Surprising Freedom.
On November 9, 1989, Gunnter Schabowski, a member of the East Germany Politburo, came out in a press conference and declared a new travel regulation to enable the East Germans to cross the border to West Germany. Nonetheless, his announcement was not delivered well, and it did not include important information. This was followed by confusion and absence of further instructions, which caused spontaneous crowds of people to go to the wall, where the border guards were also unsure of how to react at first. The confusion of the rhetoric gave the citizens courage to start climbing over and breaking through the wall, resulting in scenes of celebration and unbelief.

Spontaneous Celebrations and World Response
The word that the wall was open went round like bush fire. The wall attracted people of East and West Berlin, and of the whole world, to watch this historic moment. The riots were unplanned, euphoric and mainly peaceful. The world community met this news with astonishment and relief showing the international importance of this event. The burning of the Berlin wall marked the closure of one period and the beginning of another on the post-cold war history.</
The Consequences: Reunification and After
The toppling down of the Berlin wall was the event that started a series of events resulting to the reunification of Germany in 1990. It was not accomplished without difficulties; there were economic differences between East and West Germany which needed a lot of investment and restructuring. In addition, the division left social and psychological scars that lasted years. Nonetheless, the destruction of the wall was a victory of human spirit and a very strong sign of hope to have a more peaceful and globalized world.
The future effects of the fall of the wall.
The Berlin wall falling created a dramatic and tremendous effect on world politics. It proved that communist governments were very weak and hastened the fall of the Soviet Union. More so, it brought about a new sense of hope and optimism and led to democracy and human rights movements worldwide. The occasion is a very important reminder of the strength of non-violent opposition and the value of liberty and autonomy.
Conclusion: November 9th in Memory
The question is When was the Berlin Wall brought down? can be easily replied: November 9, 1989. But this date is not only a historical point of reference, it is also a powerful symbol of human struggle to be free and the ultimate success of democracy over tyranny. This event cannot be properly understood without putting it into the perspective of the years of brewing dissatisfaction, the reforms of Gorbachev, and the unplanned activities of common people. The memory of this event tells us about the value of perseverance when misfortune happens and the everlasting strength of hope.

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