The major event that occurred in 1989, symbolizing the end of the Cold War, was the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9. This momentous event marked the collapse of the physical and ideological barrier that had divided East and West Berlin since 1961, representing the broader failure of communist regimes across Eastern Europe. The fall of the wall led to a wave of revolutions in Eastern Bloc countries, ultimately resulting in the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Berlin Wall's fall became an enduring symbol of freedom, democracy, and the triumph of liberal values over authoritarianism.