In what month did the Berlin Wall fall?

The Berlin Wall fell in November. More precisely, border crossings began opening on the night of 9 November 1989, triggering the collapse of East Germany’s travel restrictions and the Wall’s political authority.

The immediate catalyst was a confused announcement by East German official Günter Schabowski, who stated at a televised press conference that new travel rules would take effect “immediately.” Thousands of East Berliners soon gathered at border checkpoints. At Bornholmer Straße, overwhelmed guards eventually raised the barrier, allowing people to cross into West Berlin.

The Wall did not vanish physically in a single night. Crowds began dismantling sections almost immediately, while official demolition continued into 1990. November is therefore the accepted month for the fall of the Wall, although German reunification came later, on 3 October 1990. The date is also sometimes described as the night of 9–10 November because crossings continued past midnight.