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In 1945, at the end of WWII, Germany was divided into a Soviet
Zone in the East, and British, French and American Zone in the West.
Control of the city of Berlin was also split.
In 1961, the Soviets blocked an exodus to the West by building a
wall across Berlin - a potent symbol of the Cold War. Guards from
250 observation turrets could fire at anyone who tried to climb over
it, and at least 64 people were shot dead while trying to escape
from East Berlin (the last two in February 1989).
In September 1989, Hungary created a route for east Germans to
cross to the West by opening its border with Austria. This breach
destroyed the reason for the Berlin Wall's existence.
In November 1989 the wall was opened and East and West Germany
were reunified. Scenes of widespread euphoria were beamed across the
world as East and West Berliners dragged down slabs of the hated
symbol of their separation.
Gorbachev's effective go-ahead for this part of the "Iron
Curtain" to be breached meant that things would never be the
same again.
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