Why Was the Berlin Wall Taken Down?

For thirty years, the Berlin Wall stood between West Germany and East Germany. The wall extended through the capitol city of Berlin. The building of the Berlin Wall had occurred in 1961 in response to the continuing emigration of Germans from the more repressive communist East German government to the more free democratic government of West Germany. When the wall was taken down, it was a cause for celebration.

In the face of Russia’s own unrest, the hold the Russian government over the Eastern Block countries was loosening throughout the 1980s. Without the support from Russia, the East German leadership lacked the power and ability to control the rising discontent.

On November 9, 1989, the East German government announced that all restrictions on travel to the West were being dropped and East German citizens would be allowed through the border without problems.

The opening of the Wall occurred when border guards were not able to confirm the announcement about the lifting of the travel restriction; however, the East Berliners didn't want to wait and they began flooding to the checkpoints at the Wall. Eventually, the numbers of East Berliners waiting to cross over to West Berlin were so big that the guards opened the gates and allowed the citizens to pass through to West Berlin with little or no document checks.

The fall of the Berlin Wall met with significant anxiety throughout the rest of Europe. Fears were that the reunification of Germany would lead back towards war, as it had in 1939. Over the next year, steps were taken to reunite East and West Germany after over 31 years of being separated.

Background: History of the Berlin Wall

Although the Berlin Wall was built in 1961, the building and strengthening of the wall continued for the next two decades, as East Germany continued to try to preclude the attempted escapes from East Berlin. This went on up until the mid 1970s.

As political climates changed around the world in the 1980s, the countries that were part of the East European block were also undergoing changes. The communist countries that formed the Iron Curtain of Eastern Europe were dealing with unrest among their people, who wanted the better life and freedom that the rest of Europe and the West possessed.

Hungary Opens Their Borders

The period of August 1989 through November 1989 saw many significant changes occur within the eastern block. Near the beginning of August, Hungary removed the border defenses they had erected along their border with Austria. They opened their borders to all, which brought about a mass exodus of East Germans to West Germany. The refugees flooded the West German embassy and refused to return to East Germany.

The response of the East German government was to cease granting visas to Hungary. The escape of so many East Germans through Hungary triggered mass demonstrations within East Berlin and East Germany. Similar events were occurring in Czechoslovakia while the demonstrations continued in East Germany. The leader of the East German government, Erich Honecker resigned his office and was replaced by Egon Krenz in light of the unrest.

More Citizens Demand to Leave East Berlin

In September, the demonstrations were reaching greater numbers with citizens demanding to leave the country.  By November, the numbers had swelled to over half a million people at demonstrations in East Berlin. Waves of refugees were leaving East Germany through Czechoslovakia. The new Krenz government were tolerating this.

Time and Climate Were Right for Freedom

The tearing down of the Berlin Wall was a result of many factors coming together at just the right time. Unrest throughout Eastern Europe and the weakening of Russian influence throughout the region contributed to a large degree in the general unrest among the populations of the countries.

Exposure to life in the West and the freedoms that had slowly been given, especially in Hungary, created a climate of dissatisfaction. The populace had their appetites whetted for the freedom of the West.

The time had come to rise up and demand their freedom. It was a pressure cooker of sorts with each situation adding a bit more pressure. The pot continued to develop higher pressure until the top blew and demonstrations erupted all across Eastern Europe.

Interestingly enough, none of this was a direct influence of any action taken by the western countries. One could pose the opinion that what occurred in Berlin and East Germany was coming for a long time, and finally found its outlet.