Berlin

Berlin is the capital of the new united Germany and also its largest city. More than any city it symbolizes the fall of communism, the end of the Cold War, and a brave new world. Berlin with it's difficult history and its new identity as a cosmopolitan city with diverse tastes in everthing from sexuality to the arts and with a strange mix of Eastern and Western traits, Berlin is definitely worth visiting.

If you are looking for a symbol that is representative of German unity, look no further than the Brandenburg gate. Today this gate is the last gate still standing that formed part of the Berlin wall. It was part of the Unter den Linden Boulevard and the statues on top are of Nike on her chariot facing westwards and towards victory. It was at the Berlin Wall, in 1963, that the young American President, J.F. Kennedy declared “We are all Berliners”……it was to resonate around the world.

Today it is easy to forget how dangerous those times were and how imminent was the threat of nuclear war was. It is also easily forgettable how the border between East Germany and Russia was shut off early in the mornint of 13th August 1961 with barbed wire and an armed guard. The west made reprsentations to Russians but were ignored. Only 3 days after a temporary border of barbed wire was erected, it was being replaced with something more permanent, a concrete wall. Only a few days later the whole of West Berlin was surrounded by a concrete wall that was 4 meters high and over 111 km long.

In total the Berlin Wall had 300 armed watch towers with ZOPO (border guards.) There was also a total of 50 bunkers. By the end of AUgust 1963 the Berlin Wall was almost impossible to cross although that didn't deter people. In total 190 people were shot dead while trying to cross the border. Many fugitives from East Brlin lost their lives trying to cross that wall. Berlin is Europe´s largest building site.

It is the city that never stands still and is forever becoming, as the old East Berlin undergoes massive regeneration. However, it is also a city steeped in history and is famous for its many museums, the greatest of which is the Pergamon Museum. Welcome to Berlin.

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