Perhaps nothing symbolized the Iron Curtain more than the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall was a concrete barrier that completely surrounded West Germany and separated it from East Germany. Prior to the Berlin Wall’s erection in 1961, many, perhaps millions of East Germans had immigrated to West Germany and thus to freedom. The wall seriously halted immigration and many East Germans lost their life attempting to escape communism for nearly a quarter of a century.
In 1962, one of the top 40 songs on the hit parade dealt with Berlin Wall. Hardly a dance song. The visuals are excellent, even though you might want to turn your sound down:
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate, along the Berlin Wall and declared:
General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
While Reagan said those words, and is generally thought of as the impetus behind the wall coming down, it actually happened during the presidency of George Herbert Walker Bush.
On Novemeber 9, 1989, After a series of internal revolutionary movements swept through the eatern block, East Germany announced it would tear down the wall. Citizens from both cities came out in force and tore down the wall with great joy while armed guards watched.
