"Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Gorbachev had nothing to do with it, did he?

Question

In 1988, Ronald Reagan stood before the world and proclaimed, Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall. The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961 under the supervision of Nikita Kruschev. So, what power would Gorbachev have had to tear down a wall he didn't build? Or was the feeling that Gorbachev could systematically undo what Kruschev did?

Answer 1

Yes, Gorby had everything to do with the fall of the wall and the fall of Communism. The Soviets had exercised strict control of East Germany (hence Nikita built the wall in 1961). Then, when Gorby relaxed communist society in the 1980's through his programs of Perestroika and Glasnost, the momentum for change became inexorable and the entire Soviet state collapsed. As the Russians no longer exercised strict control over East Germany, the Germans tore the wall down.

Answer 2

The wall seperated West Berlin from East Berlin and East Berlin was communist and Gorbachev was head of the communist world at the time. That's why.