The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, marking a pivotal moment in history that signaled the end of the Cold War and the division of East and West Germany. Its collapse led to the reunification of Germany and was celebrated worldwide as a victory for freedom and democracy. The wall had stood since 1961, symbolizing the ideological and physical divide between communist Eastern Europe and the democratic West. The event was part of a wave of revolutionary changes in Eastern Europe, allowing countries under Soviet influence to seek greater autonomy and democratic governance.