What major event in 1989 symbolized the end of the Cold War?

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 is often considered the major event that symbolized the end of the Cold War due to its powerful representation of the collapse of communist control in Eastern Europe and the diminishing influence of the Soviet Union. The wall had been a physical and ideological barrier separating East and West Berlin since 1961, epitomizing the division of Europe and the broader ideological struggle between capitalism and communism.

When the wall fell, it marked a significant shift in political dynamics, leading to the reunification of Germany and a wave of democratic movements across Eastern Europe. This event underscored the loss of Soviet power in the region and set into motion the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, solidifying the conclusion of the Cold War era. Therefore, the fall of the Berlin Wall serves as a potent symbol of the end of the long-standing geopolitical tensions that defined the Cold War period.