For three decades, it symbolized the chasm between East and West, a brutal, grey barrier which divided a city and was a constantly-simmering focal point of the Cold War. But on November 9, 1989, the long-oppressed citizens of East Berlin broke the first chink in its 96 miles of concrete and barbed wire, signaling the start of one of history's most dramatic political transformations. A simple mistake by an East German official (who announced free transit to the West) unleashed joyful and anarchic celebrations on either side of the Wall. Germans East and West rushed to embrace each other, but how would the Soviets respond? Would they reinforce GDR border guards and fire on the revelers? Would the try to force the gates closed? Would they fire on the West, unleashing World War III? The world watched and waited.