Berlin commemorates 36 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall: celebrate and remember freedom!

Berlin commemorates 36 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall: celebrate and remember freedom!

On November 9th, 2025, a decisive moment in history will be remembered in Berlin: the 36th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which took place on November 9th, 1989. On this important date, an event with Governing Mayor Wegner will be held at the memorial on Bernauer Strasse. History comes to life here, as this place is considered a central memorial to the division of Germany and the violent side effects of the construction of the Wall, which shook the lives of many local residents.

The celebration opened the day before with a “Freedom Week”. This week offers a variety of around 130 events at around 80 locations in the capital. The concerns behind this initiative are clear: citizens should jointly appreciate and reflect on the events surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification.

A setting for history

The Berlin Wall Memorial stretches over 1.4 kilometers and impressively shows the traces of division. Its location on Bernauer Strasse is no coincidence, as the sector boundary here was forcibly sealed off from August 13, 1961. The effects were devastating. Neighbors became separated from each other, and many people who once lived together in harmony were no longer able to use their usual routes.

The stories about desperate attempts to escape are particularly dramatic. Some people jumped out of windows hoping to start a new life in West Berlin, but many failed tragically. But there were also lucky escapes that were followed with astonishment by the world public. The memorial commemorates these moving stories, with a focus on the victims of communist tyranny as well as a monument to the divided city.

The fall of the wall

November 9, 1989 was not only the day the Wall came down, but also the turning point in German history. That evening, tens of thousands of people streamed from East to West Berlin after the GDR leadership unexpectedly opened the borders. A scenario prepared by the events of the Peaceful Revolution and the opening of the Iron Curtain between Austria and Hungary on August 19, 1989. The courage of the citizens who stood up for their freedom was obvious.

On November 9th, during a press conference, Günter Schabowski announced the new travel regulations - without knowing what the immediate implementation would actually achieve. When the gates at the Bornholmer Straße border crossing opened at 10:45 p.m., it brought a smile to many people's faces. Flowers and champagne were received, paving the way for the reunification of Germany. This finally took place on October 3, 1990 and concluded a dark period in German history.

In the following years, numerous commemorative events were organized, such as the 10th, 20th and 30th anniversary celebrations, in which music and culture played an important role. A lot has changed since 1989, and the Berlin Wall Memorial stands as a living reminder of where people's courage can lead - towards freedom and unity.

For more information about the memorial and historical facts, visit Deutschlandfunk, berlin.de or Wikipedia.