The significance of the Berlin Wall during the Cold War lies in its role as a powerful symbol of the division between East and West. Erected in 1961, it physically and ideologically separated East Berlin (a Soviet-controlled area) from West Berlin (aligned with the West). The wall represented the broader struggle between communism and democracy, and its presence heightened tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. The wall also became a focal point for protests against communist oppression. Its eventual fall in 1989 not only marked the reunification of Germany but also symbolized the declining influence of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.