The major event in 1989 that symbolized the end of communism in Eastern Europe was the fall of the Berlin Wall. The wall, which had divided East and West Berlin since 1961, represented the physical and ideological boundary between the communist east and the democratic west. Its fall on November 9, 1989, followed widespread protests and reforms in Eastern European nations, signifying a dramatic shift towards democracy and freedom. This moment not only led to the reunification of Germany but also marked the decline of Soviet influence and the eventual dissolution of the communist regime across the region.