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The Berlin Wall was a barrier that divided the German city of Berlin from August 13, 1961 until November 9, 1989. It was constructed by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) to prevent its citizens from fleeing to West Germany and other parts of Western Europe. The wall consisted of concrete posts and walls, barbed wire fences, guard towers and anti-vehicle trenches. It had a length of 155 km (96 mi), extending from the Baltic Sea south of Schwedt to the end point near Marienborn on the inner-German border. The wall also included a restricted area known as the "death strip," which was patrolled by East German guards who were authorized to use lethal force against anyone trying to escape over or under it.

The purpose of the wall was to both limit access between East and West Berlin and to prevent East Germans from escaping into West Germany - in effect creating a heavily fortified border between East and West. Although psychologically traumatic for many people living in Berlin at the time, it had important economic consequences as well: The flow of goods across this newly created internal border between East and West Germany was severely restricted due to an increase in tariffs on trade goods crossing between their two respective economies. This increased pressure eventually played a role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe when demonstrations broke out in 1989 leading up to its eventual dismantling later that year.

The construction of this dividing line caused deep divisions within German society, with some people seeing it as necessary for security while others viewed it as an oppressive symbol designed only to restrict freedom. This tension would remain even after its dismantling in 1989, when westerners began visiting what had previously been off limits behind this Cold War symbol. The entire stretch of the former wall is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to remembering those affected by its presence during one of history's darkest eras.