When the Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989, it marked a turning point in the Cold War in Europe and set in motion the process that led to the reunification of East and West Germany. But before that could happen, Chancellor Helmut Kohl, had to address fears about the return of a powerful Germany and convince the four allied powers of France, Russia, the US and the UK - which had occupied Germany following the second world war - to agree to both countries reuniting. After some careful diplomacy and the intervention of the US President, the new Federal Republic of Germany was formed on 3 October 1990, ending 40 years of division. Joachim Bitterlich, a key advisor to Chancellor Kohl, speaks to Jacqueline Paine.

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(Photo: Celebrating German unification, Berlin. Credit: Owen Franken/Corbis via Getty Images)

The reunification of Germany

Witness History

The reunification of Germany