As an ideological divide between the two fronts of the Cold War, and as physical divide between the two halves of Berlin, the Wall stood for 28 years until November 9, 1989, when the first hammer struck. It completely fell by 1992.
On August 13, 1961, the border between East and West Berlin was effectively closed. The Wall was built on East German territory. Overnight, East Germans could not travel to the West. Families were split up and East Berliners employed in the West could not go their jobs. Over a 100 people died trying to cross the wall.
A view of the Berlin Wall. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
The Berlin Wall extended around West Berlin for a length of 156 km. There were nine border crossings between East and West Berlin. West Berliners needed permits to visit the Eastern side.
Checkpoint Charlie was a hallmark of the Berlin Wall. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
Checkpoint Charlie became a symbol of the Cold War, featured in many movies. It was the vehicle and pedestrian crossing restricted to Allied personnel and foreigners.
East German border guards carry away the body of Peter Fechter, an 18 year old building worker, who was shot dead in 1962 as he tried to flee across the Berlin Wall. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
Western artists rode on growing anti-Wall sentiment. David Bowie, David Hasselhoff and Bruce Springsteen performed near the Wall on both sides.
Tourists take a look through segments of the Berlin Wall near Potsdam Square, one of the last sections of the Berlin Wall at the original place in Berlin. | Photo Credit: AP
22 months after the erection of the Wall, U.S. President John F. Kennedy stated his support for West Berliners.
A young West German girl smiles at her father as she points to a large hole in the Berlin Wall in this November 11, 1989 file photo. | Photo Credit: Reuters
On July 12, 1987, U.S. President Ronald Raegan challenged the then General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev to take down the Wall. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this Wall!" he said.
East German border guards are seen through a gap in the Berlin wall after demonstrators pulled down a segment of the wall at Brandenburg gate. | Photo Credit: AP
After a press conference on November 9, 1989, a huge horde of East Germans made their way through the Wall. The breaking of the Wall began that very evening with people using handheld tools to chip off pieces of the structure.
A flood of East Germans cross the Wall over to the Western side. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
A month later, citizens could travel without visas. This event was the first step towards the unification of Germany, a country which had seen tumult during and after the Second World War.