Today in History |
November 9, 1989 |
Revolution was in the air, but this time, the sentiment was for the West. On November 9, 1989, after weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced that its citizens could visit the West without fear of reprisal. Mass crowds of East Germans began climbing onto the wall. Many crossed over - others began to destroy the edifice. During the years from the erection of the wall in 1961 to its fall, approximately 5,000 people attempted escape with the death toll from border guards estimated at 178.
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