Monumental Milestones: The Fall of the Berlin Wall

There is perhaps no greater symbol of both political oppression and the human spirit in the 20th century than the Berlin Wall. Built during the height of the Cold War in 1961, the Wall was meant to both stop the number of citizens trying the leave East Germany for the freedoms and opportunities of the West and to prevent people spreading the ideals of democracy from coming in. In the 28 years the Wall stood, it is estimated over 1,000 people were killed trying to escape into West Berlin.