Private travel into foreign countries can be requested without conditions […]. Permission will be granted instantly. Permanent relocations can be done through all border checkpoints between the GDR into the FRG or Berlin (West).
— Günter Schabowski, November 9th, 1989

These were the words – broadcasted live on TV – after which the German reunification took it’s course. People in East Berlin moved to the border crossings and demanded immediate opening. Finally, the border guards gave in and a new era began that culminated in the reunification of Germany.

Photos from fiahless, VivaoPictures, and annette_lozinski.