Berlin Wall PHOTOS: A Look Back At The Fall

Monday November 9th marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a monumental moment in history which the Economist recently referred to as "still the most remarkable political event of most people's lifetimes."

Below are a collection of photos looking back at those historic days, as well as some images of the Wall over the years. Read more about how Germany will be celebrating the anniversary here.

• • • • • • • • • • • • West Berliners crowd in front of the Berlin Wall early on November 11, 1989 as they watch East German border guards demolishing a section of the wall in order to open a new crossing point between East and West Berlin. (GETTY)

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Comments

[EugeneMorgan]

I never expected President Obama to attend the twentieth anniversary celebration of the fall of the wall.
His side lost.

[SoCalVandal]

Very sad that Obama couldn't attend. There is no end to his narcissism. He is angry because they wouldn't let him speak at the Gates during election. He is an embarrasment to our country. No, I don't want to hear about Bush's previous failures, I am stating that Obama has no class. Zilch, none, zero. This is one of the biggest events since world war II. He was invited, all other European presidents are attending. He can pitch for the Olympics and campaign in Germany but can't commemorate a memorial. What a petty, vain person. If he were smart, which he isn't; he would have gone over there and praised Reagan, helping end partisan bickering.

[missviv]

I was 4 years old when the wall came down and I remember seeing it on T.V. here in the U.S. I didn't know what the wall signified, what communism was, or that there was even a West and East Germany but I knew something incredible was happening that would only occur once, something that I should remember my whole life. My parents were fixated on the television the whole night and so was I.. funny, that's one of the most vivid memories I have from that time.

[Politiqo]

I went to Berlin last year and went to Checkpoint Charlie. I walked there from my hotel in what was East Berlin, and there is still a clear dissonance between the East and West Berlin despite the wall having been torn down. This is especially true as you walk down the lavish Under den Linden avenue in the West side vs some Karl-Marx-Straße neighborhoods.

[DanHasSpoken]

Correction to the 6th picture - those are West Berliners standing on the Wall, not East Berliners. The picture is taken from the west facing East. East Berliners could not approach the wall so easily, even on 11/9/89.

[gulfofmexico1]

All because of Ronald Reagan. Viva La Reagan!

[TakeSake]

Oh, you mean the guy who traded weapons with the Iranians?

[swellsoire]

The American taxpayer is responsible for the collapse of the Soviet Union. Reagan just happened to be in office when the wall fell.

[EugeneMorgan]

And Brett Favre just happened to be the quarterback when the Vikings beat the Packers last week.

[sparkandy]

It's really a shame that our globe trotting President can't be bothered to attend the celebrations, even though he was invited.

[gulfofmexico1]

He is pitching a hissy fit because they would not let him speak at the Gates during his election.

[TakeSake]

It's a shame that our vacation record-breaking former President didn't bother to read the August, 6th memo, even though it was titles, "Bin Laden determined to attack U.S."

It's a shame that our puppet-stringed former President took a wrong turn in the Persian Gulf to attack a country that had nothing to do with 9-11.

It's a shame that our spend-like­-a-drunk-s­ailor and charge-lik­e-a-spoile­d-teenager former President squandered a surplus and doused the country with debt.

[Dan Palka]

...and it's still a shame that Barack can't make it to Berlin.

[jessicajuliette]

takesake--­preach!-fa­nned...

[EugeneMorgan]

It's a shame that the military spots a Jihadist in it's ranks and does nothing for fear of the bigotry label. Thirteen lives WASTED!!

[kuwaitamoment]

Wow, history in our lifetimes. Amazing pictures.
Those young East German soldiers look as if they refuse to acknowledge that their entire world was about to change at that very moment.