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21 stunning photos from the night the Berlin Wall came tumbling down 30 years ago
The Berlin Wall came tumbling down on November 9, 1989, reuniting East and West Germany, and foreshadowing the fall of the Soviet Union.
The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 to divide East and West Berlin. Constructed by the eastern, Soviet-ruled portion of the city, the wall was meant to keep Western "fascists" from invading the East butit also served as a barricade to those Easterners attempting to migrate to the West,capitalist territory.
The barbed-wire-topped wall divided families and took away basic human rights, keeping the population of East Berlin trapped inside Soviet territory. At12 feet tall and 4 feet wide, the wall and its surrounding security systems were known as "The Death Strip," as nearly 100 people were killed in their attempt to cross its miles of trenches and trip-wire machine guns.
On November 9, 1989, it was announced by theEast German Communist Party that citizens of the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, could cross the border whenever they pleased. That night, mayhem ensued at the border. Many who lived in the East crossed freely to the West for the first time in nearly 30 years, and citizens even began chipping away at the wall.
We've compiled Reuters images from that infamous night and the nights thatfollowedas the Berlin Wall finally came crashing down.
East German soldiers act as a barricade, blocking West Berliners waiting to welcome East Berlin citizens at the Allied guardhouse "Checkpoint Charlie" November 9, 1989.
Fabrizio Bensch
When the clock struck midnight, all the checkpoints along the wall opened.
Fabrizio Bensch
Berliners carried hammers and chisels to begin chipping away at the wall.
Fabrizio Bensch
Both East and West German citizens celebrated as they climbed the wall at the Brandenburg Gate.
Fabrizio Bensch
While in the past those trying to cross the border would resort to digging tunnels, leaping out of buildings that lined the border, or attempting to drive through, on November 9, West German citizens climbed freely atop the Berlin Wall.
Fabrizio Bensch
East Germans celebrated as they climbed the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate.
Str Old
West Germans applauded as East Berlin citizens traveled through Checkpoint Charlie on the following day, November 10.
STR New
There was plenty of celebration as West Berlin citizens welcomed East Germans as they passed the border checkpoint.
Fabrizio Bensch
People embraced friends they hadn't seen in years.
AP Photo/Claus Eckert, File
West Berlin citizens continued to stand atop the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate November 10.
STR New
Looking out onto a sea of thousands, East Berlin border guards stood atop the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate November 11.
Str Old
Some East German border policemen didn't know how to react.
AP Photo/Lutz Schmidt
By November 12, it was no longer only small hammers being used to deconstruct the wall. Here, an East German bulldozer and crane knock down the Berlin Wall at Potsdamer Platz.
Wolfgang Rattay
East Berliners cross and meet West Berliners at Potsdamer Platz after the Berlin Wall was torn down at this checkpoint November 12. Over 2 million people from East Berlin visited West Berlin just that weekend.
Wolfgang Rattay
Parts of the Berlin Wall were loaded onto trucks at Potsdam Platz by November 14.
Wolfgang Rattay
Thousands walked along the Berlin Wall between Potsdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate November 18.
Reuters Photographer
Even days later, citizens wanted to participate in the destruction. Here, a young West German girl hammers the Berlin Wall November 19.
Michael Urban
Another section of the Berlin Wall was dismantled by East Germany near the Brandenburg Gate December 22.
Fabrizio Bensch
This flag, reading "Unity," was waved high as these Germans crossed the newly opened border December 22.
Fabrizio Bensch
Into the following year, 1990, citizens still wanted their own piece of the Berlin Wall. Here, a man hammers away at Checkpoint Charlie June 2, 1990.
Fabrizio Bensch
Many took souvenirs of the wall, and pieces of its graffitied facade can now be found all over the world.
AP Photo/Udo Weitz, File
See Also:
- The Berlin Wall fell 30 years ago. Here's how people who were there in 1989 remember the historic 'Mauerfall' today.
- Trump and Warren have the biggest rallies in the 2020 election. They couldn't be more different.
- The Berlin Wall has been gone longer than it stood. Here's how the 28-mile blockade looks today compared to 1989.
SEE ALSO: The Berlin Wall fell 30 years ago. Here's how people who were there in 1989 remember the historic 'Mauerfall' today.
DON'T MISS: The Berlin Wall has been gone longer than it stood. Here's how the 28-mile blockade looks today compared to 1989.
AND THEN: Pictures show all the surprising places the Berlin Wall ended up around the world
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