The Berlin Wall was a concrete barrier that divided East Berlin and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. It was built by the government of East Germany to prevent citizens from fleeing to the West, symbolizing the ideological divide between the communist East and the democratic West during the Cold War. The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, marked a significant moment in history, leading to the reunification of Germany and the end of the Cold War. Today, remnants of the wall serve as a powerful reminder of the struggles for freedom and unity in Europe.