Introduction to Geography of Berlin
Berlin, a city and state in Germany. (The city and state have the same boundaries.) Berlin is the nation's capital and largest city. After Berlin's capture by Soviet forces in 1945, during World War II, the city was divided into four sectors. The eastern sector was governed by the Soviet Union and each of the remaining sectors by one of the other major Allied powers—the United States, Great Britain, and France. During 1948–49, Berlin was divided into two parts—East Berlin and West Berlin.
In 1949, East Berlin was made the capital of East Germany. Though it was 100 miles (160 km) east of the border with the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), West Berlin was economically and culturally integrated into the Federal Republic. Technically, West Berlin was governed by the Western powers until 1990. In October, 1990, East and West Berlin, along with the rest of Germany, were reunited and Berlin again became the capital of Germany.
Berlin is situated on a low-lying plain on the banks of the Spree River and has an area of 341 square miles (883 km 2 ). The Spree flows from southeastern Berlin to the western part of the city, where it joins the Havel River, a tributary of the Elbe. A system of canals crosses Berlin. Numerous lakes dot the area, including the Grosser Wannsee, the Tegeler See, and the Grosser Müggelsee.
Before its division, Berlin was Germany's premier city. It was not only the seat of political power, but also a vibrant center of the arts, education, commerce, and industry. When Berlin was divided, the two cities functioned almost independently of one another. Both were major manufacturing and commercial centers; both had prominent educational institutions and cultural attractions. After reunification in 1990, Berlin once again became Germany's premier city.
General Plan and Description
From 1961 to 1989 the two cities were divided by the Berlin Wall, built by East Germany to cut off mass emigration to the West. Portions of the wall were torn down in 1989, and East Germany eased travel restrictions to West Berlin. By 1992 the remainder of the wall had been dismantled. In general, Berlin has a fairly modern appearance, as many areas were destroyed during World War II and rebuilt.
Prewar Berlin was composed of the central city and numerous suburbs, villages, and farm areas, divided among 20 semiautonomous districts. The center of the city was the area along Unter den Linden, the main thoroughfare, and around the Pots-damer Platz, the main square. In this area were found imposing government, university, and other public buildings as well as the main commercial center.
Today, all the streets between eastern and western Berlin that were blocked by the wall are reconnected. The Kurfürstendamm, with its many shops, sidewalk cafes, restaurants, theaters, and hotels, is one of the city's busiest and most fashionable streets. The Red Town Hall, located between the Palace of the Republic and Alexanderplatz, is Berlin's administrative center. Berlin has many residential areas. Some of the newer ones include Märkisches Viertel to the north, Hansa-Viertel near the Tiergarten, and Gropiusstadt to the south.
One of the most distinctive features of Berlin is the abundance of green space provided by its many parks and forests. Some of the largest forests include Grune-wald, Spandau, Tegel, and Köpenick.
Economy
World War II and the three-month Soviet occupation in 1945 left Berlin's economy in shambles. With the aid of the United States and West Germany, West Berlin's industrial production was restored by the mid-1950's. The rebuilding of East Berlin's economy was slower, with the greatest development coming in the 1960's. Today, Berlin is Germany's largest single manufacturing center. Products include electrical and electronic equipment, automobiles, machinery, leather goods, textiles, processed foods, rubber, chemicals, and paper. Banking and insurance are also important.
Facts about BerlinName—May derive from a Wendish word meaning “dam,” because of a dam built on the Havel River in or near the settlement during its early history. Location—52° 32' N., 13° 25' E.; about the same latitude as London. Berlin time is six hours later than Eastern Standard Time (6 P. M. in Berlin is 12 noon in New York City). Area—341 square miles (883 km 2 ). Altitude—about 100 feet (30 m) above sea level. Climate—Average temperatures vary from 33° F. (1° C.) in January to 65° F. (18° C.) in (585 mm), including some snow. Government—Berling is governed by a popularly elected House of Representatives, which elects a mayor and a Senate. The Senate acts as the mayor's cabinet.Transportation
Within Berlin, transportation is provided by buses and an extensive subway and elevated railway system. Several expressways, as well as many other major roads, radiate from Berlin. The city is linked to most parts of Europe by an excellent railway network. Canals and rivers connect Berlin with the Baltic Sea, the Rhine River, and the North Sea. Berlin has three major airports—Tempelhof, Tegel, and Schönefeld.
Landmarks and Places of Interest
The Brandenburg Gate, a triumphal arch built in the late 18th century, was the chief landmark of prewar Berlin. Located along what was the boundary between East and West Berlin, today the gate stands as a symbol of a reunited Berlin. Among other notable historic structures are the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and the Arsenal. The church, built in the 1890's, was severely damaged during the World War II and today stands unrestored as a reminder of the war's destruction. The Arsenal, a baroque structure built between 1695 and 1706 to store weapons, today houses the Museum of German History.
Southwest of Berlin is Wannsee, site of the 1942 conference where Nazi officials planned the extermination of the Jews. Today the villa where the conference was held is a memorial dedicated to the millions of Jews who perished in the Holocaust. It also houses a museum with exhibits pertaining to the Holocaust.
Berlin has many restored historic buildings and modern structures. Among the notable restored buildings are Charlottenburg Castle and Grunewald Hunting Lodge, both former royal residences; the Reichstag, the former parliament; the Schöneberg Town Hall, formerly the seat of West Berlin's government; and the State Opera House. Some of the more notable modern structures include the Radio Tower, the Television Tower, the International Congress Center, and the Philharmonic Hall.
Berlin has two zoos. The zoo located in the Tiergarten was opened in 1844. Its collection is among the largest in the world. An aquarium is affiliated with this zoo. Berlin's other zoo, the Tierpark, opened in 1955, is located in what was formerly East Berlin.
Education and Culture
The Free University of Berlin, with more than 60,000 students, is Berlin's largest institution of higher learning. Other notable educational institutions include Humboldt University of Berlin, the University of Technology, the National College of Art, and several institutes of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of science.
Located on an island in the Spree are some of Berlin's major museums, including the Pergamon Museum, specializing in Greco-Roman and Oriental antiquities; the National Gallery, housing paintings and sculpture; and the Bode Museum, featuring Egyptian antiquities. Among other major museums are the New National Gallery, an art museum; and the Dahlem Museums, which include museums of painting, sculpture, and German folklore. A number of painting collections are housed in the former royal residences.
Berlin is a major center for the performing arts. The Berlin Philharmonic is one of the world's leading symphony orchestras. The city has several major opera houses, including the German Opera (Deutsche Oper), the German State Opera (Deutsche Staatsoper), and the Comic Opera (Komische Oper). The Staatsoper Ballet is an internationally acclaimed dance company. Among the prominent theaters are the Deutches Theater, the Schaubühne, and the Berliner Ensemble.
History
The area that is now Berlin was originally inhabited by Wends (a Slavic group). The first German colonists settled there around the 10th century. Berlin was chartered about 1237. Because of the settlement's location along a major trade route, it grew rapidly. In 1470 Berlin became the home of the Hohenzollern family, rulers of the German state of Brandenburg.
In 1701 Berlin became the capital of Prussia and in 1871 the capital of the newly formed German Empire. During World War II, Allied bombing caused extensive damage. The city fell to Soviet forces May 2, 1945, after a two-week battle that left the city in ruins.
On July 1, 1945, Berlin was divided into United States, British, French, and Soviet occupation sectors and placed under the joint administration of these four powers. This arrangement lasted for almost three years, during which time Berlin gradually achieved a degree of self-government.
Four-power control broke down in 1948, and the Soviets blockaded all highways and railways connecting the city with West Germany. The Western powers established the Berlin Airlift in June, 1948, to supply West Berliners with food and other necessities. The airlift lasted until the blockade was ended 11 months later. In 1953 an anti-Communist uprising in East Berlin was brutally put down by Soviet troops.
On August 13, 1961, East Germany began barricading the boundary between East and West Berlin to halt the increasing flow of refugees out of the country. Despite protests from the Western powers, the East Germans divided the city by a concrete wall, ending all traffic between the two parts. By 1962 the flow of refugees had been reduced.
Beginning with Christmas, 1963, West Berliners were allowed into East Berlin for certain holidays, but in 1966 the East Germans barred all further visits. On several occasions the East Germans also temporarily blockaded access routes between Berlin and West Germany. In 1972 a four-power accord on Berlin went into effect. Provisions included the Soviet Union's guarantee of unimpeded travel to the city and the right of West Berliners to visit East Germany for up to 30 days a year.
East and West Germany reached an agreement in 1978 to build a highway between West Berlin and Hamburg, West Germany; it was completed in 1982. In 1989 East Germany eased travel restrictions to West Berlin and began dismantling the Berlin Wall. In 1990 East and West Berlin, along with the rest of Germany, were reunited and Berlin became the capital of Germany. Many federal offices, however, remained in Bonn, the former capital of the Federal Republic of Germany.
During 1990–91 virtually of what remained of the Berlin Wall was removed. Also during that period, many major construction projects were begun, mainly in what was East Berlin. In 1993 government leaders agreed that most of the federal government offices and ministries would be moved from Bonn to Berlin by 2001.
Population: 3,454,200.