Today in History: Berlin Wall Falls

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For over 40 years, Berlin was a divided city. Located within East Germany (itself divided from West Germany after World War Two), its western half was governed by the U.S., England, and France, while the Soviet Union controlled East Berlin. To prevent East Berliners from escaping to West Berlin, the Russians built the Berlin Wall in 1961, completely encircling the free half of the city.

The Wall came to symbolize the struggle of America and Russia for control of Europe. In 1989, after weeks of major protests, East German officials allowed inhabitants to travel freely between the two Berlins; in a matter of days, people were smashing the Wall down with sledgehammers in a joyful international celebration. Two years later, the Soviet government in Russia fell and communism disappeared from Europe.

Read more about the strange history of the Berlin Wall.