The Berlin Wall was a guarded concrete barrier that encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, separating it from East Berlin and the German Democratic Republic (GDR; East Germany). The wall's primary purpose was to prevent East German citizens from fleeing to the West. The barrier was built inside East Berlin on East German territory to ensure that it did not encroach on West Berlin at any point. Officially called the Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart by East Germany, it symbolized the Iron Curtain that divided the Western and Soviet blocs during the Cold War. The wall extended 28 miles through Berlin, dividing the city, and an additional 75 miles around West Berlin, separating it from the rest of East Germany.
Today, remnants of the Berlin Wall exist as historical sites and memorials. Notable attractions include the East Side Gallery, a 1.3 km section of the wall transformed into an open-air art gallery; the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse, offering insight into the wall's impact; and Checkpoint Charlie, a former border crossing. These locations display segments of the wall, documentation centers, and exhibitions. Other significant sites include Potsdamer Platz, Brandenburg Gate, and Mauerpark. The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, marked a pivotal moment in German history, leading to reunification on October 3, 1990.
