Berlin celebrates fall of the wall

By Duncan Crawford Newsbeat reporter in Berlin

Celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall are taking place in the city.

It split the German capital in two and symbolised the cold war and the divisions between communism to the east and capitalism to the west.

About 30 world leaders are in Berlin for the celebrations.

There's not a lot of the wall left now and what's remaining is covered in graffiti. Local shops still try to sell bits of it.

Now local stores and shiny office blocks surround the area but 20 years ago it was no man's land.

The wall stretched for miles encircling west Berlin, cutting it off from the east.

After World War Two, Berlin was split up between the west and the Soviet Union.

The cold war began with the US and the Soviets vying to be the world's number one superpower and a nuclear arms race broke out.

See how young people in Germany are celebrating the anniversary

Blockade

Built in 1961, the wall stopped east Germans emigrating to the west but millions had already left to escape Communism.

Stone watchtowers, manned by guards, overlooked what became known as the Death Strip because anyone trying to escape could be shot.

Between 100 and 200 people died trying to escape over the Berlin wall

Dani grew up on the east side of the wall. She said: "We were poor, we were spied on by our own government. It was a cruel government.

"There was no way to leave the country. You could only flee the country."

After repeated peaceful demonstrations, the wall was unexpectedly opened up.

A thousand giant dominoes have been set up to topple along the route. They symbolise the revolutions that surged through eastern Europe after the wall fell and ultimately led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Candles were lit on Monday morning at a memorial service in memory of those who were gunned down trying to escape from east Berlin.

A metro ride away is the giant stone structure of the Brandenburg Gate, where thousands are also gathering for a concert.