The Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was built in 1961. It split the city of Berlin in half. One side was East Berlin and the other was West Berlin. The wall kept people from leaving the east side. It came down in 1989 during a happy celebration.

Why It Was Built

After World War II, Germany was split between the Soviet Union and other countries. East Germany became a communist country. Many people tried to escape to the free west side. So East Germany built the wall to stop them.

A leader from East Germany back when the Berlin Wall stood.
A leader from East Germany back when the Berlin Wall stood. (Anefo / Wikimedia Commons)

The Fall of the Wall

For 28 years, families on different sides could not see each other. People protested the wall and wanted to be free. On November 9, 1989, East Germany finally let people cross. People took hammers and broke the wall down themselves.

Fun Facts

  • The Berlin Wall was about 96 miles long and 12 feet tall.
  • People around the world took pieces of the wall home as souvenirs.
  • Some people escaped by digging tunnels or flying in hot air balloons.

Did You Know?

Germany became one country again in 1990, about one year after the Berlin Wall came down.