The Fall of Berlin Wall Essay Example

in various countries such as Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, and Chile. In addition, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union also offered an opportunity for Russia to shift towards democracy.

The 1989 destruction of the Berlin Wall, a major symbol of the Cold War period, signaled a critical change that precipitated the collapse of communism and finally culminated in the merging of East and West Germany.

During the summer of 1989, East Germany was battling a surge of its citizens trying to escape from the firmly established German Democratic Republic. This situation arose as those in East Germany looked for ways out through deteriorating communist countries neighboring Western European nations. The large-scale departure began in May 1989 when Hungary initiated the process of removing barbed wire that marked its border with Austria. Despite restrictions set by Hungary, people from East Germany started using routes towards Hungary intending to reach Western Europe via Austria. As a result, Hungary found itself forced to close off its shared border with East Germany, although it eventually reopened in September.

On September 10, 1989, the boundary between Hungary and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was reopened. This development triggered a large-scale emigration of East German refugees through the breached Iron Curtain towards Austria via Hungary. During September, more than 13,000 East Germans managed to escape through this route. Numerous protest activities on both sides of the Berlin Wall significantly contributed to the collapse of the East German Government. Crowds of Berliners at the wall chanted "Tor auf!" ("Open the gate!") and as midnight hit, they surged through checkpoints.

Ultimately, the East-West Cold War concludes after the

Malta meeting, and the Berlin Wall falls.

Reunification of Germany 1990

The collapse of the Wall in 1989 initiated a series of occurrences that culminated in Germany's reunification within less than a year. This significant transition was enthusiastically welcomed by Germans from both regions. The eagerness for rapid integration with West Germany among East Germans was vividly demonstrated in their single, free parliamentary election held on March 18, 1990, where most voted for political factions supporting this consolidation.

In the summer of 1990, East and West Germany were engaged in talks that culminated in an accord similar to the German-German currency union. At the same time, they achieved a mutual understanding with four major countries - the United States, Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France who held responsibility for the health of Berlin and overall Germany as part of the Two-plus-Four-Treaty. This approval on foreign policy matters related to security greatly aided in facilitating the unification of Germany.

The resolution of the German Question in 1990, pertaining to the old demand for 'unity in freedom,' was only possible with the consensus from all its neighbors. This ultimately led to the simultaneous solution of another significant issue of that era: The Polish Question. The final acceptance under international law that the Oder and Neisse Rivers marked Poland's western border was a prerequisite to Germany's reunification within the boundaries of 1945.

While Germany's stance has been set since 1990, the role of Europe is still up for determination. Twelve new countries became a part of the European Union in 2004 and 2007. Ten out of these nations were previously governed by

communism until the onset of a new era from 1989 to 1991. These nations all formerly belonged to what was referred to as the Occident and have been significantly shaped by their shared legal history, early dissociation between religious and governmental institutions, noble and civilian powers. Importantly, they've also been profoundly impacted by serious outcomes of religious disputes, national conflicts, and racial prejudice.

The task of merging previously separate regions in Europe is a process that requires time and patience. The success of this consolidation largely depends on the pace at which European integration takes place, as well as how rapidly the Union grows. This progress involves more than just infrastructural alterations; it significantly depends on mutual understanding about European history and its ensuing impact. Among these impacts, one factor holds utmost significance - a profound appreciation for the unifying power of Western values, primarily the unquestionable entitlement to human rights. These are norms collaboratively set by Europe and America, upheld strongly, and must be consistently evaluated against.

These occurrences resulted in an alteration in political dynamics. The path towards unity in the German Democratic Republic was laid through democratic elections taking place on March 18, 1990. The 'Unification Treaty' was inked by the heads of both nations later in August of the same year. Thus, the official unification of Germany took place on October 3, 1990.