More like it was pushed over grudgingly. I had the opportunity to see both the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie of all places while East Berlin was still a different city. I remember walking up to an out-of-the-way bridge (closed at the time) that resembled the bridge in the 2015 film Bridge of Spies — yeah, it looked like that. I remember the distinct impression that crossing the barb wire would be a very bad idea. Different world... I recommend the film.