The twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on the night of November 9–10, 1989, has brought many news stories and reminiscences about the original event. The following sites all have multiple stories, though only one is cited here. Deutsche Welle has “November 9, 1989 - The Day That Changed European History.” SPIEGEL ONLINE International has “How Poland and Hungary Led the Way in 1989.” The BBC has “The Night the Berlin Wall Fell.” The Guardian has “Berlin's Moment of Freedom That Turned World History.” National Public Radio has “The Night the Wall Fell: Freedom, Fatherhood Collide.”
Historical works about the Berlin Wall can be narrow or broad with respect to both space and time. The Berlin Wall was not limited to Berlin; it continued in East Germany in former Potsdam district (T2—43154). The November 9 breach of the Wall, however, occurred in Berlin. Within Berlin (T2—43155 Berlin), the wall itself was physically located in East Berlin (T2—431552 Eastern Berlin), but a full account of the fall of the wall on the night of November 9–10, 1989, involves at minimum both eastern and western Berlin. Historical works that emphasize Berlin at the time of the fall of the wall are classed in 943.1550878 History of Berlin, 1982–1990 (built with 9 plus T2—43155, following instructions at 930–990 History of ancient world; of specific continents, countries, localities; of extraterrestrial worlds, plus 0878 from 943.0878 Germany, 1982–1990, following instructions at 01–09 Historical periods in the add table under 930–990). An example of a work classed in 943.1550878 is When the Wall Came Tumbling Down: 50 Hours That Changed the World; here is a description of the work: “Using never-before-seen footage, this compelling film shows what really happened November 9th–11th, 1989 during the fall of the Berlin Wall.”
Historical works that treat both parts of Berlin but cover the full period of the Berlin Wall are classed in 943.155087 History of Berlin, 1945–1990 (built with 9 plus T2—43155, following instructions at 930–990, plus 087 from 943.087 Germany, 1945–1990, following instructions at 01–09 in the add table under 930–990). An example of a work classed in 943.155087 is The Berlin Wall: 13 August 1961–9 November 1989.
Historical works that emphasize East Germany at the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall are classed in 943.10879 Period of East Germany, 1989–1990. The number is one of the special period numbers for the former East Germany, a subdivision of 943.1087 Period of East Germany, 1945–1990. An example of a work classed in 943.10879 is The Fall of the Berlin Wall.
The built number 943.1552087 History of East Berlin, 1945–1990 (built with 9 plus T2—431552 Eastern Berlin, following instructions at 930–990, plus 087 from 943.1087 Period of East Germany, 1945-1990, following instructions at 01–09 in the add table under 930–990) has limited use because of its narrow focus on East Berlin.
Historical works that treat broadly the roles of multiple central European countries, including Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia as well as Germany, are classed in 943.0009048 History of central Europe, 1980–1989 (built with 943.00090 plus 48 from T1—09048 1980–1989, following instructions at 943.000901–943.000905 Historical periods of central Europe). An example of a work classed in 943.0009048 is The Year That Changed the World: The Untold Story behind the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
Works that emphasize the immediate effect of the fall of the Berlin Wall on world history are classed in 909.828 World history, 1980–1989. An example of a work classed in 909.828 is The Fall of the Berlin Wall: The Revolutionary Legacy of 1989. The work treats the United States, the Soviet Union, Europe, and China.