The Berlin Wall symbolizes the division of East and West Berlin and represents the broader ideological divide between the communist East and capitalist West during the Cold War. Erected in 1961 by East Germany, the wall physically and ideologically separated the two sectors of the city until its fall on November 9, 1989. It symbolized the repressive measures employed by the East German government to prevent citizens from fleeing to the West. The fall of the Berlin Wall marked a significant moment in history, leading to the reunification of Germany and the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union, signaling the end of the Cold War.