The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, symbolizing the end of the Cold War and the division between East and West Germany. Its collapse was a momentous event that represented the broader disintegration of communist regimes in Eastern Europe. The wall had been erected in 1961 to halt the mass emigration of East Germans to the West, becoming a powerful symbol of the Iron Curtain. Its fall spurred reunification efforts in Germany and led to significant geopolitical shifts, including the expansion of NATO and the European Union. The event marked a triumph for democracy and freedom, highlighting the power of grassroots movements.