What German term is the native name for the fall of the Berlin Wall?

The German term for the fall of the Berlin Wall is Mauerfall. It combines Mauer, meaning “wall,” with Fall, meaning “fall” or “collapse.” German speakers commonly use Mauerfall as a compact name for the events of 9 November 1989.

The Wall did not collapse in one single demolition. After East German spokesman Günter Schabowski announced new travel rules, thousands of citizens gathered at border crossings. Confused and overwhelmed guards eventually allowed people to pass into West Berlin. Crowds then began chipping away sections of the barrier, while official dismantling followed later.

Mauerfall is closely connected with Die Wende, or “the turning point,” the broader peaceful political revolution in East Germany. It also began the final phase of German reunification, which was completed on 3 October 1990. A common mix-up is treating Mauerfall as the same thing as reunification: the Wall opened in November 1989, but the two German states legally reunited almost a year later.