Key Dates
- 13th C – Foundation of Berlin and Cölln
- 1640–1688 – The Great Elector strengthens Berlin and welcomes Huguenot immigrants
- 1701 – Elector Frederick III becomes King Frederick I
- 1709 – Berlin and Cölln merge
- 1731–1740 – Frederick Wilhelm I (“Soldier King”) builds Prussian military power
- 1740–1786 – Frederick the Great develops Prussia into a major power
- 1789 – Brandenburg Gate erected
- 1862 – Bismarck becomes Chancellor
- 1871 – German unification; Berlin becomes capital
- 1918 – Wilhelm II abdicates; Germany becomes a republic
- 1920 – Greater Berlin created; population reaches 4 million
- 1933 – Hitler becomes Chancellor; Reichstag fire
- 1938 – Kristallnacht
- 1945 – Berlin occupied by Allies; divided into four zones
- 1961 – Berlin Wall constructed
- 1989 – Fall of the Berlin Wall
- 1999 – Berlin becomes capital of reunified Germany
Overview
Few cities encapsulate an idea as powerfully as Berlin. For many, it symbolizes Cold War division, espionage, and the eventual triumph of reunification. But this recent history only hints at its deeper past. Berlin’s first golden age came in the 18th century under Frederick the Great, who cultivated art, architecture and philosophy. Its second was during the Weimar Republic, when Berlin became a cultural and intellectual hub of Europe.
This dual identity—cosmopolitan, progressive Berlin versus the militaristic, authoritarian state it often represented—gives the city its enduring paradox. Reunified or divided, Berlin has always been a city of contrasts.
History
Origins and Growth
Berlin began late compared to other European capitals. Founded in the 13th century as twin settlements — Berlin and Cölln — it prospered along key trade routes. The Thirty Years’ War devastated the city, reducing its population dramatically. Recovery began under the Hohenzollerns, rulers of Brandenburg and later Prussia.
Immigration was central to Berlin’s revival. Jewish refugees from Austria and French Huguenots expelled by Louis XIV settled here, bringing economic vitality and skilled craftsmanship. Their influence remains visible in many neighborhoods.
Putting Prussia on the Map
The Soldier King (Frederick Wilhelm I)
Frederick Wilhelm I transformed Prussia into a major military power, doubling the army and turning Berlin and Potsdam into vast garrison towns. Culture took a back seat to discipline, efficiency and obedience — values later synonymous with Prussian identity.
Frederick the Great
Frederick II rebelled against the militarism of his upbringing, embracing philosophy, music and French culture. Once king, however, he proved a strategic thinker. He expanded Prussian territory during the Seven Years’ War and fostered a classical artistic revival. Potsdam’s Sans Souci and Berlin’s Forum Fredericianum bear his influence.
Empire and Industrialization
After Napoleon’s defeat and Bismarck’s political maneuvering, Berlin became the capital of the unified German Empire in 1871. Rapid industrialization followed, making it one of Europe’s largest cities, though still culturally overshadowed by Vienna and Munich until the turn of the century.
The World Wars
Berlin welcomed World War I with enthusiasm, but defeat brought upheaval. Communist uprisings led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were crushed in 1919. Government moved to Weimar, leaving Berlin free to become the avant-garde center of the 1920s: a time of artistic brilliance and social volatility.
Under Hitler, Berlin became the showcase of the Third Reich — from book burnings to the 1936 Olympics. The city suffered catastrophic destruction in World War II, with entire districts reduced to rubble.
The Cold War
After 1945, Berlin was divided among the Allied powers. Tensions rose rapidly, and in 1948 the Soviets blockaded the city. The Western Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift. In 1961, the East German authorities built the Berlin Wall, cementing the split between East and West.
West Berlin became a symbol of Western freedom; East Berlin, a showcase of the GDR’s socialist vision. Kennedy’s famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech underscored Berlin’s importance to the West.
The Present and the Future
The peaceful fall of the Wall in 1989 astonished the world. Reunification brought massive reconstruction, particularly in the government district and Potsdamer Platz. Glass and openness replaced imposing Prussian stone as symbols of a new, transparent democracy.
The Swastika
The swastika is an ancient symbol of well-being, originating over 6,000 years ago. Long before its appropriation by the Nazis, it was used across Europe and Asia as a sign of luck and cosmic harmony.
Potsdam
Potsdam, capital of Brandenburg, lies amid lakes, canals and forests. Once a military town under Frederick Wilhelm I, it blossomed under Frederick the Great, who built Sans Souci. The Glienicke Bridge — famous for Cold War spy exchanges — connects Potsdam with Berlin.
Arts
Berlin flourished culturally under Frederick the Great and especially during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The University (founded 1810) attracted intellectuals such as Hegel, Heine and the Humboldt brothers. Later, Einstein, Max Planck and Robert Koch advanced scientific innovation here.
The theatre world thrived under Max Reinhardt, with political dramatists like Bertolt Brecht reshaping modern theatre. Movements such as Dada and the Bauhaus challenged artistic norms and influenced global design.
Babelsberg and the Film Industry
Babelsberg Studios were the heart of German cinema in the early 20th century. UFA dominated European film production, creating classics such as Metropolis, Nosferatu, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Stars like Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo began their careers here.
Cabaret
Weimar Berlin became synonymous with nightlife, libertine culture and the search for escape in the face of economic chaos. Hyperinflation shattered social norms, and Berlin developed a reputation for decadence, portrayed memorably in the film Cabaret.
Lifestyle
Berlin’s population has always been shaped by immigration — Jews, Huguenots, Russians, Poles, and Turks among many others. Berliners are known for their blunt humor, tolerance and resilience. Neighborhoods such as Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg became centers of alternative culture both before and after reunification.
Eating and Drinking
The typical Kneipe (pub) is a central social space. Popular drinks include Berliner Weisse with raspberry or woodruff syrup. Local dishes include smoked pork ribs (Kasseler Rippchen), marinated pork knuckle (Eisbein) and Rote Grütze for dessert.
An Alternative Culture
During the Cold War, West Berlin attracted counter-culture communities, partly due to military service exemptions and low-cost living. Squats, communes, punk culture, political art and environmental activism flourished, especially in Kreuzberg.
After the Wall
Post-1989 Berlin retains distinct identities between east and west. Massive redevelopment has reshaped former border zones into government and business districts. An influx of diplomats, corporations and creatives continues to transform the city.
The Visit
Cecilienhof
Cecilienhof, an English-style manor built in 1916, hosted the Potsdam Conference in 1945. Visitors can see parts of the house and the table where the Allied leaders planned post-war Europe.
Sans Souci
Frederick the Great’s rococo palace (1745–1747) sits atop terraced vineyards and overlooks a vast park filled with follies, gardens and additional palaces. Highlights include the Chinese Tea House, Roman Baths, Charlottenhof Palace and the imposing New Palace.
Potsdam’s town center offers Dutch gabled houses, St Nicholas Church and the Film Museum in the former royal stables.