1945 World War II ends in Europe when Germany surrenders. The Potsdam Conference divides Germany and Berlin into four occupation zones: British, French, American, and Soviet. 1948 Separate governments for East and West Berlin. 1949 The United States, Canada and Western European countries form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) –; an alliance committed to defending each other. The United States, Britain and France create the Federal Republic of Germany, a democratic West Germany. The Soviet Union creates the German Democratic Republic, a communist East Germany. 1950 - 1960 The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union continues. West Berlin starts to prosper. East Berlin doesn't. More than 3 million East Germans flee to the West. 1961 President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev hold a summit in Vienna. It's unsuccessful. Khrushchev threatens nuclear war. Berliners hear rumors of the Soviet Union closing the border. On Aug. 11, 1961, more than 4,000 East Germans flee to West Berlin. On Aug. 13, East German troops close the border between East and West Berlin with barbed wire. Two days later they place concrete slabs at the border, signaling their intention to build a permanent wall. At the end of October, American and Soviet tanks confront each other at Checkpoint Charlie, along the border between the American sector and East Berlin. The confrontation ends in a stalemate. After the final stages of construction, the Berlin Wall is 96 miles long. It is 12 feet high with a concrete tube at the top. 1970s-1980s East and West Germans live with the Berlin Wall. There are thousands of escape attempts. Berliners find ingenious ways to communicate with friends and family across the wall. 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev takes power in the Soviet Union. He begins democratic reform. The Cold War begins to thaw. East Germans demonstrate against communism. 1989 The Hungarian government opens its border with Austria in May. Many East Germans use that route to escape to the West. On Nov. 9, the Berlin Wall is opened. Travel restrictions are lifted. More than 10,000 East Germans cross the border to West Berlin. Mass celebrations last for days. People break pieces – even chunks – off the wall. In Freedom Park you can visit the largest exhibit of original Berlin Wall pieces outside of Germany. You can also see an original East German guard tower and a large mural depicting the fall of the wall.