The Berlin Wall Fell Because of a Miscommunication
The Berlin Wall came down on November 9, 1989, largely due to a government spokesman accidentally announcing that border crossings would open 'immediately.'
About this fact
East German official Günter Schabowski was supposed to announce new, slightly relaxed travel regulations that would take effect the next day. However, during a live press conference, he mistakenly said the borders would open 'immediately' when asked when the new rules would take effect. Thousands of East Berliners rushed to the wall, overwhelming border guards who had received no instructions. Faced with massive crowds and lacking clear orders, guards began opening checkpoints. By midnight, people were celebrating on the wall with hammers and pickaxes, and history was made through what was essentially a bureaucratic error.