Comprehensive guide to Berlin, Germany

Modern Berlin is undergoing rapid changes, revealing new faces on a day-to-day basis. This fascinating city attracts visitors with its unique atmosphere, rich selection of museums (for instance the Pergamon Museum, the National Gallery or the Historical Museum) and historic monuments.
Surprisingly, Berlin's History is relatively short, despite the fact that the city itself dates back to nearly 800 years ago. Berlin originated from two merchant towns: Berlin and Coelln, both situated on the Spree River. Due to their advantageous location on the main Medieval trading routes junction, both cities became prosperous with booming economies and promising future prospects. However, they decided to unite after only 400 years, forming Berlin as one legal entity in 1709. The real turning point came in 1871, when the Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck founded the German Empire, with Berlin destined to be its capital. From that time on, Berlin has gained in importance and embarked upon high-speed, industrial development.
The First World War put a sudden halt to these developments. After Germany's defeat, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and the Republic was announced on November 9, 1918. In 1920, Berlin merged with seven surrounding towns and other neighboring villages to form so-called "Greater Berlin". During that time, the city became a cultural and spiritual center of worldwide importance. Famous personalities who lived here and contributed to Berlin's success include Nobel Prize Winners Fritz Haber and Albert Einstein, and great writers like Bertolt Brecht, Carl von Ossietzky and Arnold Zweig. Theatres, cabarets and open-air performances also experienced a real boom.
Unfortunately, the economic and social situation fell apart and the country was on the brink of collapse, with soaring inflation and an unstable political system. As a direct consequence, in response to fast-growing radicalism and overwhelming frustration, on January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was the National Socialist Party candidate chosen to become State Chancellor. Soon after the Nazis took power, a wave of terror and oppression against ideological opponents began. The Second World War began and ended in Berlin. The city itself suffered enormous losses: more then 600,000 flats were completely smashed and the number of inhabitants who managed to survive amounted to 2.8 million (in 1939, the capital's population was 4.3 million).
After Germany's defeat, four triumphant Allied Powers, the USA, the Soviet Union, Britain and France took control. However, governing Berlin effectively required partitioning it into four zones, each supervised by a different occupying state. The growing disagreement and tension over the spheres of influence between the Soviet and Western Block disrupted this cooperation, and the Cold War era began. The dramatic situation in East Berlin resulted in the starvation and isolation of its inhabitants.
In 1949, two independent German states were founded, the German Democratic Republic (GDR - East Berlin) with its capital in Berlin, and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG - West Berlin) with its capital in Bonn. On August 13, 1961, East Berlin officials from the Soviet Union undertook military measures to prevent the growing number of refugees from the GDR to the FRG from passing the border. The construction of the Wall was a real shock for all Berliners, who suddenly became separated from their relatives and friends. According to some sources, almost 100 people were killed trying to get across the Wall. Totally different economic conditions prevailed on each side, with the centrally-planned concept on the East and the competitive open-market concept on the West.
The first steps towards reunification were taken after Erich Honecker stepped down in October, 1989. On November 9, 1989, all travel restrictions for East Germany were finally withdrawn and the Berlin Wall fell. On December 22, the Brandenburg Gate was re-opened and the following year on October 3, five re-established German states officially joined the FRG. After an initial spontaneous outburst of joy and happiness, it became obvious to everyone that the cost for the reunification would be a huge burden for the German economy, and thus for each individual. Discrepancies, although diminishing, can still be observed, as th11e eastern states face real social and economic challenges, such as a high unemployment rate and the exodus of people to the west. The picture of modern Berlin is not so simple either, but it makes this city unique and much more attractive, even to a seasoned tr aveler.