Which event marked the end of the Cold War?

The fall of the Berlin Wall is a significant event in the timeline of the Cold War, as it symbolized the dismantling of the division between East and West, specifically between the communist Eastern Bloc and the capitalist Western countries. It occurred on November 9, 1989, and marked a turning point as it allowed East and West Germany to reunite. This event was celebrated worldwide and is often seen as a powerful representation of the ideological struggle that characterized the Cold War.

While the fall of the Berlin Wall was a pivotal moment, it is the collapse of the Soviet Union that is often cited as the definitive end of the Cold War. The Soviet Union officially dissolved on December 26, 1991, which led to a significant shift in global politics, affirming the defeat of the communist regime and the end of East-West antagonism. Therefore, while the fall of the Berlin Wall was a crucial event leading to the end of the Cold War, it is the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union that marks the actual conclusion of this prolonged period of geopolitical tension.