June 12: In 1987, during the Cold War, US President Ronald Reagan publicly challenges Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall !”

"Tear down this wall!" speech: President Ronald Reagan speaking in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

The Berlin Wall was built by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics -USSR- in 1961, as an "anti-fascist protection wall" to separate the Berlin capital of the Federal Republic of Germany under Soviet control, the German Democratic Republic that had the support of NATO, led by the United States.

Moscow's idea was to build a socialist country, which evolved toward communism without any foreign interference. But in reality, the Wall served to prevent migration of citizens of this repressive towards freedom of the West, in Germany. Anyone who tried to climb over the Wall was shot at while dead. Thousands died trying to pass the west side seeking freedom.

Mr Gorbachev Tear Down This Wall Mr gorbachev

Lay down this wall! Was the challenge given him by Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, as an emblem of desire that had the Soviet leader to advance transparency (glasnost) and restructuring (perestroika).

Reagan acknowledges the crowd after his speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin on June 12, 1987.

Reagan's speech was delivered on June 12, 1987, to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the founding of Berlin. It was the second visit by President Reagan in five years and at a time of high tension between East and West, in the middle of the "Cold War".

President Reagan famously said "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall"

The Brandenburg Gate was chosen to emphasize the conviction of the President of the United States that Western democracy offered the best hope for Eastern Germans.

On August 13, 1961, the German Democratic Republic began building a wall which separated West Berlin from East Berlin and East Germany.

The phrase "Tear down this wall!" It was the logical conclusion of the proposals of President Reagan.