Berlin
Berlin is the capital of Germany, a city whose modern history has been shaped profoundly by its division during the Cold War and reunification in 1990.
A wall built almost overnight in 1961 divided this city for nearly three decades, only to fall almost as suddenly, torn down by hand by crowds who gathered the very night it opened.
From Prussian Capital to Empire
Berlin became the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia and later the unified German Empire following German unification in 1871, growing rapidly into a major European industrial and cultural center by the late 19th century.
Devastation and Division
Following World War II, Berlin was divided among the victorious Allied powers, and as Cold War tensions escalated, the city became physically split between communist East Berlin and democratic West Berlin.
The Wall Goes Up
In 1961, East German authorities constructed the Berlin Wall, a heavily fortified barrier intended to stop the mass emigration of East Germans to the West, physically dividing the city for nearly three decades and becoming the era's most potent symbol of Cold War division.
Reunification
The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 amid mass pro-democracy protests across Eastern Europe, and Germany was formally reunified in 1990, with Berlin once again becoming the capital of a unified German nation.
A City Shaped by Its History
Today, Berlin is renowned for its rich history, vibrant arts and nightlife scene, and preserved remnants of the wall that once divided it, attracting visitors from around the world drawn to its unique blend of historical weight and contemporary culture.
