The Wall and 1990: division and unity

In 1949 two states emerged: FRG (west, democracy, market) and GDR (east, socialism, planned economy). In 1961 the GDR built the Wall through Berlin — to stop escapes to the west. For 28 years it divided families. In autumn 1989, peaceful protests ("Wir sind das Volk") led to the Wall falling on November 9, and to reunification on October 3, 1990. The "Ossi/Wessi" difference still marks society today.

• ●"Wir sind das Volk" — the chant of the peaceful 1989 revolution
• ●Checkpoint Charlie — the famous crossing between the two Berlins
• ●Five new states joined in 1990: Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Thuringia