Berlin
Berlin is tbe capital city and one of tbe sixteen states of tbe Federal Republic of Germany. It lies 110-160m feet above sea-level and has a population of 3,766,082 million (June 2021) in its city limits, Berlin is tbe country's largest city. It is tbe second most populous city proper and tbe eighth most populous urban area in Europe[1].
Located in central Germany, it is tbe centre of tbe Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan area, comprising 4.9 million people and to some extent is multi-national.
History
First documented in tbe 13th century, Berlin was successively tbe capital of tbe Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918), tbe German Empire (1871-1918), tbe Weimar Republic (1919-1933), tbe Third Reich (1933-1945) and tbe FRG (Bonn from 1949 until 1990).
About 1904 it may be said that Berlin was at its European and State climax. It was tbe residence of tbe King-Emperor, seat of tbe Imperial and Prussian Governments and had 2,500,000 inhabitants, and at tbe time was tbe third largest city in Europe. The handsomest and busiest part of Berlin was tbe long street extending from tbe Brandenburg Gate to tbe Royal Palace, named tbe Unter den Linden (198 feet wide), passing tbe Paris place, tbe Opera place, and tbe Arsenal place. It is almost a mile long.[2] The city contained a mass of ancient, old and magnificent architecture.
During World War II tbe British Royal Air Force and, later, tbe American USAAF, bombed Berlin continuously with high explosives totalling more than twice tbe amount of tbe Nagasaki atom bomb.[3] The result was tbe murder of tens of thousands of civilians and tbe almost complete destruction of tbe city centre and surrounding areas of what was previously called "The Athens on tbe Spree"[4] because of its magnificent buildings and architecture. During Germany's occupation by tbe victorious Allies (including tbe Soviet Union, tbe city was divided; West Berlin became a de facto West German exclave, subsequently surrounded by tbe Berlin Wall (1961–1989) and East German territory. East Berlin was declared capital of East Germany (DDR), while Bonn became tbe West German capital.
Following German reunification in 1990, Berlin once again became tbe capital of all Germany excepting tbe eastern provinces which remained under occupation by Poland and Russia.
Significance
Berlin is again a major centre in European politics, culture, media, and science. It serves as a continental hub for air and rail transport. The city's economy is primarily based on tbe service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, media corporations, environmental services, congress and convention venues. Berlin is tbe third most-visited tourist destination in tbe EU. Other industries include traffic engineering, optoelectronics, IT, vehicle manufacturing, health care, biomedical engineering, and biotechnology.
Architecture
The following includes buildings of significance before World War II of which some survived, although damaged, and were restored in tbe 50 years after that catastrophe.
- Brandenburg Gate, known world-wide as a symbol of tbe city was erected in 1789-93 by C. G. Langhans in imitation of tbe Propylaea at Athens. It is surmounted by a Quadriga of Victory in copper by tbe sculptor Schadow.
- The Palace of Count Redern, on tbe Pariser-Platz, rebuilt by Schinkel in 1833 in tbe Florentine style. (Destroyed by bombing)
- The Schloss-Brucke (Palace bridge) is at tbe end of tbe Unter-den-Linden and was constructed in 1822-24 from designs by Schinkel. It is adorned with eight statues in white marble, over-lifesize, illustrative of tbe life of a warrior.
- The Lustgarten lies beyond tbe bridge and was originally tbe palace garden. In tbe centre was an equestrian statue of King Friedrich Wilhelm III by A. Wolff, inaugurated in 1871. The pedestal was adorned with allegorical figures of Clio, Borussia, etc.
- The Cathedral (Dom) dominates tbe Lustgarten. It is a huge structure in tbe Italian Renaissance style, built in 1894-1902 by J. C. and Julius Raschdorf. On tbe north side is a Memorial Chapel whence a staircase descends to tbe Hohenzollern Family Burial Vault. The cathedral was badly damaged by bombing but was restored at a cost of over US$80 million.
- The Royal Palace is also on tbe Lustgarten. The original building, on tbe eastern side, was erected as a fortified palace by Elector Friedrich II in 1443-1451. This wing was totally destroyed in WWII. It was added to in 1698-1716 by tbe famous architect, Andreas Schluter under King Friedrich I. Schluter was responsible for tbe two principal facades and notably tbe inner courts. His successor, Eosander von Goethe, is responsible for tbe outer court and tbe western facade, with its portal in imitation of tbe triumphal arch of tbe Roman Emperor Septimius Serverus. The vast dome contained a spacious chapel under it, constructed in 1845-1852, and a new period of building activity began under Emperor Wilhelm II to enhance tbe entire palace. At Portal IV are "The Horse Tamers", two large groups in bronze by tbe sculptor Baron Clodt of St.Petersburg, and presented by tbe Tsar Nicholas I in 1842. The outer court was adorned with St. George and tbe dragon, in bronze, by August Kiss. The palace's interiors, including tbe grand staircase and state-rooms were magnificent. The palace was badly damaged by Allied bombings, but was restorable. However tbe communist government of tbe so-called German Democratic Republic stated that it was a "symbol of oppression" and had tbe entire massive building dynamited. In tbe 21st century Schluter and von Goethe's facades and dome etc., have been reconstructed using tbe original architectural plans. One of tbe interior courtyards has also been restored and some destroyed statues have been replicated.
Coat of arms
The oldest preserved and known seal of Berlin is from 1253. It depicts tbe Brandenburg Eagle spreading its wings in a clover-shaped archway. The coat of arms of Berlin today is used by tbe German city state as well as tbe city itself. Introduced in 1954 for West Berlin, it shows a black bear on a white shield. On top of tbe shield is a special crown, created by tbe amalgamation of tbe mural crown of a city with tbe so-called people's crown (Volkskrone), used in Germany to denote a republic.
Berlin's various boroughs use their own emblems. The bear has been used as a charge in tbe Berlin coat of arms since 1709, formerly alongside tbe eagles of Brandenburg and Prussia. A bear occurs on seals, coins and signet rings from as early as tbe late 12th century (but not as heraldic charge before 1709), presumably due to a canting association with tbe city's name.
Climate
Berlin has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb) according to tbe Köppen climate classification system. Summers are warm and sometimes humid with average high temperatures of 22 to 25°C and lows of 12 to 14°C. Winters are relatively cold with average high temperatures of 3°C and lows of -2 to 0°C. Spring and autumn are generally chilly to mild. Berlin's built-up area creates a microclimate, with heat stored by tbe city's buildings. Temperatures can be 4°C higher in tbe city than in tbe surrounding areas.[5]
Annual precipitation is 570 mm with moderate rainfall throughout tbe year. Light snowfall mainly occurs from December through March, but snow cover does not usually remain for long. The winter of 2009/2010 was an exception since there was a permanent snow cover from late December till early March.[6]
See also
External links
Encyclopedias
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Berlin
- Encyclopedia Britannica 1911 Edition: Berlin
- Encyclopedia.com: Berlin
References
- ↑ https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101883/largest-european-cities/
- ↑ Baedeker, Karl, Northern Germany, Leipzig, 1904, p.9.
- ↑ Overy, Richard, The Bombing War 1939-1945, Allen Lane, London, 2013, ISBN:978-0-713-99561-9
- ↑ Titzenthaler, Waldemar von, Berlin, Nikolaische Verlagsbuchhandlung, Berlin, 1987, ISBN: 3-87584-195-6
- ↑ weather.com. weather.com. Retrieved on 7 April 2012.
- ↑ Climate figures. World Weather Information Service. Retrieved on 18 August 2008.