On the night of November 9 , 1989, an East German official’s misreading of his talking points on television led to monumental change in Germany and the world – the Berlin Wall opened. With the fall of the Berlin wall the geopolitical order shifted, alliances were reevaluated and the pathway to German reunification was found. As the Cold War stasis was broken, diplomats worked to ensure stability, peace, and the unification of Germany. This singular moment in history provides lessons on the importance and power of diplomacy for today with the reemergence of great power competition, rising nationalism, and political upheaval on both sides of the Atlantic.