Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
Ronald Reagan, 1987
After World War II, Germany was split into the democratic West and the communist East. In 1961, the East German government built the Berlin Wall to prevent people from fleeing to the West.
Families were separated, and life in East Berlin became heavily controlled. The Cold War intensified as the Soviet Union and the United States competed for power.
However, by the late 1980s, the Soviet Union weakened, and protests for freedom spread across Eastern Europe. On November 9, 1989, under pressure from the public, the East German government allowed people to cross freely.
Thousands celebrated as the wall was torn down, leading to Germany’s reunification in 1990.
The fall of the Berlin Wall was a victory for democracy and a major step toward a united Europe. It symbolized the end of decades of division and the hope for a more peaceful world.
Vocabulary Bank:
- Reunification – Penyatuan kembali
- Communism – Komunisme
- Democracy – Demokrasi
- Influence – Pengaruh
- Protest – Protes
Soal:
Why do you think people in East Berlin wanted to cross to the West?
