The significance of the Berlin Wall in 20th-century geopolitics was profound, symbolizing the division between the communist East and democratic West during the Cold War. Established in 1961, the Wall physically divided East and West Berlin, restricting movement and serving as a stark barrier between ideologies. Its presence not only highlighted the tensions of the Cold War but also became a powerful icon of oppression and the fight for freedom. The Wall's fall in 1989 marked the beginning of the end for communist regimes in Eastern Europe, leading to the reunification of Germany and significant shifts in global political dynamics towards democracy and capitalism.