Berlin Wall - Now and Then

The Berlin Wall was erected August 13, 1961 by the communist regime of East Germany dividing Berlin for 28 years. Nov. 9th is the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, an historic event that opened the border crossings between East and West Germany and led to reunification of the country.

BEFORE: East German policemen remove barbed wire from a brick wall while other police officers (in background) raise the wall to 15 feet at the border between the French and Russian sector at Bernauer Strasse in Berlin Sept. 9, 1961.

AFTER: The line the of former Berlin Wall in the pavement at Bernauer Strasse in Berlin Oct. 21, 2014.

Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: West Berliners wave to relatives in East Berlin one year after the Berlin Wall was erected at Bernauer Strasse Aug. 13, 1962.

AFTER: People cross the area of the former Berlin Wall in Berlin Oct. 26, 2014.

Photo credit: Werner Kreusch, Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: U.S. President John F Kennedy looks across the Berlin Wall into East Germany during his visit June 26, 1963.

AFTER: The area of the former Checkpoint Charlie border crossing Sept. 24, 2014.

Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: U.S. President John F Kennedy walks past a cordon of saluting servicemen and Checkpoint Charlie sentry post June 26, 1963.

AFTER: Actors wear uniforms at the former location of Checkpoint Charlie, with a rebuilt checkpoint as a tourist attraction in Berlin Sept 24, 2014.

Photo credit: Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: Children play next to the Berlin Wall on Sebastianstrasse near Heinrich-Heine-Strasse in 1968.

AFTER: A man walks over the once divided Sebastianstrasse Nov. 3, 2014.

Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: U.S. President Richard Nixon looks across the communist wall into East Germany during his stay in the divided city Feb. 27, 1969.

AFTER: The area of the former Berlin Wall at the Checkpoint Heinrich-Heine-Strasse Sept. 24, 2014.

Photo credit: Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: The Berlin Wall checkpoint at Heinrich-Heine-Strasse March 12, 1971.

AFTER: People walking and cycling in the area of the former checkpoint in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin Oct. 1, 2014.

Edwin Reichert, Markus Schreiber/AP Photos

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: A view of East Berlin, taken from an observation platform in Bernauer Strasse, West Berlin, 1980.

AFTER: Trams crossing the area of former Berlin Wall at Bernauer Strasse in Berlin Oct. 1, 2014.

Photo credit: Elke Bruhn Hoffman, Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: A woman looks at the Berlin Wall along the Spree river in central Berlin in 1980 with the construction site of the Charite hospital in background.

AFTER: People walk along the bank of the Spree river at the Reichstagsufer in Berlin, Germany on Sept. 16, 2014.

Photo credit: Elke Bruhn Hoffman, Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: A child plays on a playground next to the Berlin wall July 1981.

AFTER: Cars park at the same spot in Berlin's Kreuzberg district Oct. 2, 2014.

Photo credit: Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: The Berlin Wall Aug. 13, 1985 on Friedrichstrasse near Checkpoint Charlie and Friedrichstrasse.

AFTER: Friedrichstrasse with shops, restaurants, and pedestrians Oct. 2, 2014.

Photo credit: Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: East Berlin citizens crowd the new passage at Bernauer Strasse to West Berlin where East German border police tore down segments of the wall Nov. 11, 1989.

AFTER: People walk along the crossing of Bernauer Strasse and Oderberger Strasse Oct. 26, 2014.

Photo credit - Rudi Blaha, Markus Schreiber/AP Photo

25th Anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall

BEFORE: The Brandenburg Gate landmark with people dancing on the Berlin Wall Nov. 10, 1989.

AFTER: The Brandenburg Gate 25 years later Oct. 2014.

Photo credit: Thomas Kienzle, Markus Schreiber/AP Photo