After World War II, the city of Berlin was split between communist East Germany and democratic West Germany. In 1961, the East German government suddenly built a concrete wall right through the middle of Berlin to stop people escaping to the West. Families woke up and found themselves cut off from each other.
For 28 years the wall stood, guarded by soldiers with orders to shoot. Then in November 1989, an East German official named Günter Schabowski held a press conference about easing travel rules. He fumbled the notes, said the new rules took effect “immediately,” and gave a confused answer about what that meant.
East Berliners rushed to the wall demanding to be let through. Overwhelmed border guards opened the gates. People climbed on top of the wall, danced, and started knocking pieces out with hammers. Within a year, East and West Germany were one country again. A confused press conference helped change the world.
