The Berlin Wall was constructed by the East German government in August 1961 to halt the vast numbers of East Berliners defecting to the West and to prevent East Berliners from commuting to jobs in West Berlin, thus depleting the supply of labor in the East. In the last 28 years, 5.000 East Germans failed in their attempts. Another 5.000 managed to cross the wall ; 191 died in their attempts. Another 5.000 managed to cross safely . On November 9, the East German government announced an end to travel restrictions and huge crowds of both East and West Berliners began several days of celebrations on and around the Berlin Wall.