It is always fun and productive to learn the geographical and historical areas that comprises Berlin. There are few things that people often wonder about when considering the school and one of them is whether Mitte is in East Berlin. In this article, you’ll read more on this subject and grasp every detail on the geographical location of Mitte in Berlin.
The history of East and west Berlin
Once still, let’s provide a general background on both East and West Berlin before going deeper into the roads of Mitte. After the end of World War II in 1945, Germany was divided into four zones of occupation: the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France. The Soviet zone developed into East Germany and the other three zones were amalgamated to make West Germany.
Subsequently the Soviet Union was to be in conflict with the western Allies, within the Soviet zone though, was the city of Berlin which in turn was divided into East and West Berlin. In the year 1961 the Berlin Wall was built in order to divide East and West Berlin more clearly physically as well as politically.
Learning More About Mitte’s Location
The name stands for ‘middle’ in German and Mitte is one of the central zones of Berlin. The very name comes from its location in the center of the city. Nevertheless, Mitte has an important clue; it has nothing to do with both East and West Berlin but some areas from both former sides forming the current new Berlin.
Before the actual division of Berlin, Mitte essentially belonged to the eastern half of the city. Formerly, it was the historical part of Berlin and it encompassed such terrificas as Brandenburg Gate and Alexander Platz. Mitte was once acceded to East Berlin after the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 and was only reunified in 1990 with the rest of Germany. Therefore indeed, during the Cold War and before the fall of the Berlin wall Mitte was in East Berlin.
Today’s Mitte: A Symbol of Unity
Since the two Germanys were reunited, boundary between East and West Berlin has ceased to be clearly drawn as well as the position of Mitte. Currently, Mitte is seen as the core of Berlin as one city, although it symbolizes the union of eastern and western Berlin.
Strolling around Mitte, guest will notice the presence of many distinct types of architecture in this area since it was one of the first districts that was developed in Berlin. You can see fragments of the once divided city like the absorbing Berlin Wall Memorial and Checkpoint Charlie as well as sociologically new buildings like the Potsdamer Platz which appears like it came from some futuristic film.
Exploring Mitte: Must-Visit Places
Now that we know about Mitte’s unique historical background, let’s take a look at some must-visit places within this vibrant neighborhood:
1. Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is an outstanding attraction of the Berlin city and the whole of Germany. It turned out to be a famous place not only for tourists but also serves as one of the key starting points to discover Mitte.
2. Museum Island
Museum Island is part of UNESCO World Heritage and has been housing several of the most famous museums all over the world such as The Pergamon Museum and the Neues Museum. This has some information that art majors as well as history buffs are going to love.
3. Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz is one of the largest public transport hubs in Berlin that gives a good idea of what the city was and currently is. You can stay at the TV Tower, shopping or just take a coffee at one of the cafes, near by.
Conclusion
Mitte as a central district of Berlin has its own rich history connecting primarily with division and reunification of the city. Having once been in the east of Berlin during the cold war, Mitte now symbolises the division and the reunification of the city. By walking around Mitte, one can easily get acquainted with the social-cultural past of Berlin and therefore socilege.
So when next you’re planning a tour to Berlin, you should consider taking time to visit the Mitte. It contains such sights as historical monuments and new buildings, as well as an atmosphere that will help you have an incredible time.
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