How many years did the Berlin Wall stand? (+/- 1 year margin of error)

The imposing concrete barrier that famously divided East and West Berlin (Review) was erected on August 13, 1961. Its primary purpose was to halt the mass exodus of East Germans fleeing to the more prosperous and free West, a significant drain on the German Democratic Republic's workforce and economy. What started as barbed wire quickly escalated into a fortified structure, complete with guard towers, anti-vehicle trenches, and a "death strip," making it virtually impossible for citizens to cross.

For nearly three decades, this physical manifestation of the Iron Curtain became the most potent symbol of the Cold War's ideological divide, tearing families apart and isolating an entire population. It stood as a stark reminder of political repression and the global struggle between communism and democracy. However, mounting internal pressures within East Germany, coupled with the reformist policies emerging from the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev, began to erode its foundations.

The dramatic events of November 9, 1989, when a misinterpreted announcement led to jubilant crowds overwhelming border guards, marked the wall's unexpected and swift demise. From its construction in 1961 to its fall in 1989, the Berlin Wall stood for exactly 28 years. Its collapse heralded the end of the Cold War and paved the way for German reunification, transforming the geopolitical landscape forever.