There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad free.

Listen with Wundry Plus in the Wundry app.

As a member of Noiser Plus at Noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts,

or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history

podcasts at into History.com.

It's November 9th, 1989 in Soviet controlled East Berlin.

Karsten Bommel and his father sit together on their couch.

They watch their television closely as an

East German official speaks to a crowded press room about the possible

reunification of Germany. Since the end of World War II, Germany has been divided between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

Even Berlin itself has been torn into by the so-called iron curtain, 15 feet high and lined with barbed wire and machine gun towers, the Berlin Wall

cuts a 28 mile path across the city. It's an unrelenting symbol of oppression. Life on the communist eastern side of Berlin behind

the iron curtain is difficult and people want out. A massive protest in East Berlin

has sparked this emergency meeting that the Bommel's watch now on TV.

Karsden's father expects them to announce another crackdown on the demonstrators and

bored with the coverage he goes to the kitchen. But Carston is still

transfixed by the television when the on-screen official makes a shocking

announcement. People can now freely and permanently pass through the

Berlin Wall.

When asked by a reporter when that change in policy would take effect,

the man replies immediately without delay.

Karsden runs into the kitchen and relays the news to his father who throws a skeptical glance and tells

...