The Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989 Explained Simply

Do you see the year "1989" in the German citizenship test and feel confused? You are not alone. Several test questions are about this year. This article explains what happened in 1989 in simple English. You will also learn about other important dates in German history.

Why Is 1989 So Important in Germany?

In 1989, Germany changed forever. The Berlin Wall fell after almost 30 years. People in East Germany got the freedom to travel and speak openly. One year later, in 1990, East and West Germany became one country again.

Who Built the Berlin Wall?

The government of East Germany, called the DDR, built the Berlin Wall. Construction started in August 1961. The wall separated East Berlin from West Berlin. It also cut East Germany off from West Germany completely.

The official reason was "protection from the West." The real reason was different. Too many people were leaving East Germany for the West. The wall was built to stop them from leaving.

Test question 151: Who built the Wall in Berlin? Answer: East Germany (die DDR).

"We Are the People" — The Peaceful Protests of 1989

By 1989, many people in East Germany were unhappy. They wanted freedom, real elections, and the right to travel. Every Monday, people went out onto the streets in Leipzig. Soon, other cities joined them too. These protests are called "Montagsdemonstrationen," or Monday demonstrations.

The protesters shouted one famous sentence. It was "Wir sind das Volk" — "We are the people." This sentence told the government it had lost its power. The protests stayed peaceful. There was no violence.

Test question 166: At which demonstrations did people in Germany shout "We are the people"? Answer: At the Monday demonstrations in 1989 in the DDR.

November 9: One Date, Two Very Different Events

November 9 is a special date in German history. Two very different events happened on this exact day.

November 9, 1938: A Dark Day for Germany

In 1938, Nazis and their supporters attacked Jewish people across Germany. They destroyed Jewish shops and synagogues in one violent night. This event is called "Reichspogromnacht," or Kristallnacht. It was an early, terrible step toward the Holocaust.

Test question 164: What happened on November 9, 1938, in Germany? Answer: Nazis and their supporters destroyed Jewish shops and synagogues.

November 9, 1989: The Wall Opens

51 years later, on the same date, something very different happened. An East German official spoke at a press conference that evening. He announced new, easier travel rules for East Germans. He said the rules applied "immediately," by mistake. Thousands of people walked straight to the border that same night. Border guards could not stop the crowds. The Wall opened.

This is why November 9 carries two very different meanings in Germany. One meaning is deeply sad. The other brought freedom and hope.

Another Key Date: June 17, 1953

The protests of 1989 were not the first in East Germany. In 1953, workers in East Berlin started an uprising. They protested against low wages and hard working conditions. The uprising spread quickly to other East German cities. Soviet tanks stopped the uprising by force.

For many years, West Germany remembered this day every year. June 17 was a public holiday called "Tag der Deutschen Einheit." After reunification in 1990, October 3 became the new national holiday instead.

Test question 186: Which day long reminded West Germany of the 1953 uprising? Answer: June 17.

A Related Topic: The Founding of the State of Israel

The German citizenship test also asks about the founding of Israel. This topic connects to German history and the Holocaust. The State of Israel was founded in 1948. Its legal basis was a resolution of the United Nations.

Test question 184: On what legal basis was the State of Israel founded? Answer: A resolution of the United Nations.

What Happened After November 1989?

The fall of the Berlin Wall changed Germany very quickly. Border crossings opened between East and West Berlin. Families and friends met again after almost 30 years apart. Germany officially became one country again on October 3, 1990. This date is now Germany's national holiday, "Tag der Deutschen Einheit."

Quick Summary

• The DDR built the Berlin Wall in 1961.
• People protested peacefully in 1989 and shouted "We are the people."
• The Wall opened on November 9, 1989.
• The same date, in 1938, saw the destruction of Jewish shops and synagogues.
• June 17, 1953, was once a public holiday for an earlier uprising.
• Israel was founded in 1948 based on a UN resolution.

Ready for the Test?

Are you ready for the test? Practice all 460 questions with explanations in your language.

• Test question 151: Who built the Wall in Berlin?
• Test question 164: What happened on November 9, 1938, in Germany?
• Test question 166: At which demonstrations did people shout "We are the people"?
• Test question 184: On what legal basis was the State of Israel founded?
• Test question 186: When was the day that reminded West Germany of the 1953 uprising?

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This article provides information, not legal advice.