The Berlin Wall, which divided Berlin, was opened in November 1989, marking the collapse of one of the Cold War’s most visible barriers. East German authorities announced new travel rules on 9 November, and crowds soon gathered at crossing points.
The wall had been built by East Germany in August 1961 to stop its citizens from leaving East Berlin for the West. It separated East Berlin from West Berlin and became a powerful symbol of the political, economic, and military division between the Soviet-aligned Eastern Bloc and the Western allies.
Its opening was not initially planned as a formal demolition. Confused communication during a televised press conference led many people to believe that border crossings were immediately open. Overwhelmed guards eventually allowed people through, and large crowds celebrated on both sides of the wall.
Physical demolition continued over the following months. German reunification followed on 3 October 1990. The Iron Curtain was the broader political division across Europe, not the specific wall that divided Berlin.