Following the conclusion of World War, Eastern Germany closed the border with Western Germany in 1952. It would remain closed until the communist government that held power in Eastern Germany began to falter in 1989. The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, marked one of the largest mass protests in history and remains a cultural and political milestone as more than half a million Eastern Germans gathered. The Berlin Wall had become a symbol of oppression in the modern era because of its intention to prevent citizens from traveling freely or immigrating from the country. This map was produced by the United States Central Intelligence Agency, which keeps updated records as geopolitical boundaries and borders shift, and military and political leaders utilize these productions to devise, implement, and create dynamic policies and plans as new nations emerge, creating the need for innovative solutions. In the late 1980s, revolutions against the Soviet Bloc, particularly in Poland and Hungary, inspired similar events across Eastern Europe, which had remained under Soviet influence since the end of World War II during the Cold War period, with Western countries that supported democratic governments coming to power in the region. This map creates an indelible bond to one of the most significant periods in German history, which has remained one of Europe's most influential and important countries. This map is an enduring piece of international cartographical history that bears a minimal aesthetic and illustrates the shift that Germany underwent.
