Berlin - History

Berlin is perhaps the best point for starting your vacation in Germany. Located in the north east part of the country, this capital city is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg. Berlin Germany is the proud host for many of the nation's institutions of higher learning, economic facilities, and centers for the arts. Berlin has a rich history and its people possess an old and intricate cultural heritage--largely due to the number of changes that Berlin has seen over the years.

Originally the capital for Prussia, Berlin Germany has served as a cultural center for hundreds of years. The first written information of the city comes from as early as 1244 A.D. Berlin Germany has swung between times of flourishing and times of darkness. The Thirty Years War in the seventeenth century saw a third of the homes damaged and half the population was lost. However, following this devastating blow, Frederick William--a Duke, and later King of Prussia--instituted a policy encouraging immigration and religious freedom. A great number of people moved to Berlin Germany in the following years and the city quickly rebounded. This caused the population to become far more cosmopolitan with a full 20% being French. Following the dissolution of the Empire, the Weimar Republic was proclaimed in Berlin. The seizure of power by the National Socialists in 1933 saw Berlin as a focus once again by declaring it the capital of the Third Reich. Following the end of World War II, the city was split into two halves--East Berlin was held by the Russians and communism while West Berlin was held by the allies and democracy. In 1961, the infamous Berlin Wall was constructed, further separating the two halves. However, the wall was torn down in 1989 and the country was unified once more.