Germans rejoice as world marks 30 years since fall of Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall started a new era for Germany and the world 30 years ago. Germans have staged rallies, exhibitions, and celebrations across the country to honor the event's anniversary.
Peace and love
A young couple share a kiss at one of the few surviving sections of the Berlin Wall as Germany prepares to mark the 30th anniversary of the Wall's destruction. The famous mural behind them also shows a kiss between USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and the GDR's Erich Honecker.
Roses for remembrance
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and representatives of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic led the way in putting roses in the gaps of the Wall memorial to honor people who lost their lives trying to flee East Berlin.
Hailing from the East
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended the celebration at Bernauer Strasse to commemorate the Wall's victims. Although Merkel was born in the then West German city of Hamburg, her family moved to the East while she was still a baby. The future leader of Germany grew up under GDR rule. She was 35 when the Wall came down.
Visitors from abroad
Young people from Norway, Hungary, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and many other European countries attended the 30th anniversary celebration. Some of them shared their perspective on Europe's future with German leaders and foreign politicians in attendance.
Wall security
Before its destruction, Berlin Wall was infamous for its immense security designed to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West. This time, snipers are at the site to provide security for the high-level event.
Symbol of hope
While most of the Wall was blown up or demolished, German authorities left several sections standing as a reminder of the divide. These parts of the Berlin Wall now serve as tourist attractions, memorial sites, and open-air galleries.
Divided no more?
Today, the Wall is little more than a line on the pavement running through the German capital. But the Wall's legacy is not completely overcome. On average, East and West Germans still have different political attitudes and the East still underperforms economically. Chancellor Merkel said it might take 50 years until old divisions are erased.