The 9th of October marks the fall of the Berlin Wall, a key moment in the history of Germany and of the entire world. The Mauerfall is indeed generally regarded as the end of the Cold War.
Erected in 1961 by the German Democratic Republic, this 155 km-long concrete barrier dividing West Berlin from East Berlin was the physical embodiment of the Iron Curtain that separated two opposing worldviews and ideologies: capitalism and communism.
Before 1961, 3.5 million East Germans defected to West Germany by crossing over the border from East Berlin into West Berlin. The construction of the Wall prevented this massive migration, but did not stop people from trying to cross the border in search for a better life or in the hope to reunite with their family and friends on the other side. Over 5,000 people managed to escape, while around 200 lost their life in this desperate attempt.
On 9 October 1989, after weeks of civil unrest, the leader of the communist party in East Berlin, Günter Schabowski, announced that GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin “sofort, unverzüglich” (now, immediately), taking the city and the entire world by surprise. Scenes of cheering crowds flocking to the Brandenburg Gate, climbing on top the “Wall of Shame”, kissing and hugging entered the annals of history and will forever be in our memories.
Today, the remains of the Berlin Wall are one of Berlin’s most popular attractions and a global symbol of peace and unity.
Are you too young to remember the Mauerfall? Time to find out more with our selection of speeches on the topic available on the Speech Repository!
25284 (EN): The Berlin wall: 25 years later
23532 (FR): Le mur de Berlin et autres murs
25758 (FR): Les murs, même tombés, demeurent dans nos têtes
23422 (ES): 9/11/1989: La noche más larga en Berlín
22991 (IT): La cortina di ferro
Happy practice!
Your Speech Repository Team