Final answer:
The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961 and served as a physical division between East and West Berlin. However, peaceful protests in 1989 led to its eventual dismantling, marking the end of Communist governments in Central and Eastern Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The history of the Berlin Wall dates back to August 13, 1961, when East German troops erected a barbed wire fence to divide East and West Berlin. Over time, the wall was reinforced with cement walls and became a symbol of the Cold War and the division between the Communist East and the Capitalist West. However, in November 1989, peaceful protests and demonstrations in East Germany led to the opening of the checkpoints and the eventual tearing down of the wall, signaling the collapse of Communist governments across Central and Eastern Europe.