The Historical Background
When you think of Berlin, you may find your self asking whether it is part of east or west Germany. For this reason, we need to examine Berlin’s history to explain its position across both axes.
In the aftermath of World War II, Germany was divided into four separate occupation zones controlled by the Allied Powers: United States, United Kingdom, France and Soviet Union. Of course, Berlin as the capital of the Reich was also partitioned into four zones each occupied by different force.
These divisions resulted into formation of East Germany (German Democratic Republic) and West Germany (Federal Republic Of Germany) in the year 1949. Berlin too adopted this division which lead to the East Berlin becoming the capital of East Germany and the West Berlin becoming the part of West Germany.
East and West Berlin
Whilst the division of Germany was taking place, Berlin was hence considered a frontline between democracy and communism.
East Berlin
East Berlin, aligned to the Soviet Union, was made the political and administrative capital of the German Democratic Republic. It became a socialist city with soviet like architecture and organisations.
Some of Berlin’s most famous locations were located in East Berlin these included the Brandenburg Gate which became a symbol of the split between East and West Berlin up to the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
West Berlin
Surrounded by East Germany during the Cold War, West Berlin was a free city that was situated deep in the Soviet satrapy. logos was seriously in opposition to communism and it had a full backing of the Western Allies.
West Berlin benefited from substantial financial support and was very active during the Berlin Airlift of 1948/49 when supplies were flown in by the western allies in response to Soviet attempts at cutting off the pasty to East Germany.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
East and West Berlin has only been reunited recently on the 9 of November 1989 with the release of the Berline Wall. It marked the collapse of the Cold War and the physical reunification of Germany, one of the two Germanys since 1945.
The Berlin Wall which divided between East and West Berlin for more than 28 years was physically demolished through protests and peoples revelled on both sides of the war.
Contemporary Berlin
After unification, Berlin has become a lively and consolidated city. It has also been a capital of unified Germany and its history brings in tourists from all corners of the global.
The reunification has been closely followed by the rehabilitation and construction of the Western and Eastern part of Berlin therefore forging unique architecture of historical and present times. Some of the important monuments and places, which represent the history of the city, include, for instance, the Reichstag building, Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin Wall Memorial, the DDR Museum, and others.
In Conclusion
Thus, the answer to the question of Berlin’s location is in the fact that during the Cold War, this city was divided. Although it was for several decades split into East and West Berlin it no longer is since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Berlin is now a united and rich capital of Germany and it draws tourists from different parts of the globe.
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