The Berlin Wall stood for almost 30 years as one of the most powerful symbols of the Cold War. But how did it get there, and what caused it to fall?
In 1961, Berlin was a divided city: a wall separated the Communist-controlled East and the democratic West. Through the voices of people on both sides of the wall, this short documentary shows how the East German government enforced the border, and how ordinary Berliners pushed back or found ways to escape or adapt.
In the 1980s, reforms in the Soviet Union led to protests in the streets and a growing sense that change was building. Then in November 1989, a confusing announcement about travel rules sent crowds rushing to the checkpoints. Guards, with no clear orders, eventually opened the gates. Almost by accident, the Berlin Wall came down.
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