More than a million Germans and revelers from around the world celebrated on Sunday (November 9) the 25th anniversary of the sudden collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 that heralded the end of the Cold War between the East and West.
A spectacular 15-kilometer long string of 7,000 illuminated helium balloons, marking the course of the Berlin Wall that snaked through the city, were released one after another into the night time sky to cheers and tears from the enormous crowd.
The Berlin Staatskapelle orchestra played Beethoven's 9th Symphony “Ode to Joy” in an outdoor concert in front of the Brandenburg Gate on a chilly evening as the brightly lit balloons were set free - symbolizing the Wall bursting open.
The Berlin Wall was built in 1961 to stop East Germans fleeing to the West. It began as a brick wall and was then fortified as a heavily guarded 160 km (100-mile) double white concrete screen that encircled West Berlin, slicing across streets, between families, and through graveyards.
At least 138 people were killed trying to escape to West Berlin and many who were captured ended up in jail.
For more details, watch Nicole Hajal’s full report in the video above