By midnight, thousands of East Berliners were walking, biking, or driving to cross points in the Wall and entering the western half of the city-something that just a few hours earlier, they could only a dream of. The celebrations continued all through the night and into the morning. People began to dance on the top of the Wall. Others blew trumpets, embraced, and laughed while tears streamed down their faces. The ringing of chisels and hammers could be heard as people began to chip away at the once-impregnable barrier.

The Next Step
Reunification would be no simple matter. The Germans had to unscramble two separate governments, coordinate telephone and rail systems, and understand the entirely different philosophies that had guided East and West. While the West was enjoying a healthy economy and a high standard of living, the East Germans had lived much more modestly. The average monthly income in West Germany was more than 3,000 West German marks, while in East Germany it was less than 1,300 East German marks. For example, only seven percent of East Germans had telephones in their homes, compared with ninety-eight percent of West Germans. Prices for food and other goods were also radically different in the two Germanys. Late in 1989, Chancellor Kohl outlined a ten-point plan to produce a confederation of East and West Germany. It began with aid for East Germany. After a freely elected government was installed in the East, the two countries would move toward economic and political union. One Germany, One Berlin
In February 1990, World War II Allies agreed to hold talks about the reunification of Germany. At midnight on October 3, 1990, as the flag of the Federal Republic of Germany was unfurled in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin, East Berlin formally became part of West Germany.
The question remains: Can people of the world cooperate to prevent future generations from going through the pain that Berlin suffered?.