Introduction

The Second World War witnessed some numerous calamities in many cities of the world and among them was Berlin. The capital city of Germany was not spared by the wrath of the war. In this article, reader will be walked through more on what extent of destruction Berlin endured and get an insight when rebuilding process begun.

The Destruction of Berlin

In World War II even though Berlin was not directly an allied force objective, it was targeted for its political and military importance. Therefore, the city continued to experience bombings in an endeavor to extinguish the Nazi regime and reduce Germany capacity in the continuation of the war.

The single worst raid on Berlin took place on November 23, 1943 and was code named the “Operation Thunderclap.” In the Second World War, British and U.S. air forces targeted this city and dropped immense number of bombs which destroyed many infrastructural and civilian buildings.

But the heaviest losses were during the Battle of Berlin with the Soviet advance in 1945 to Berlin. The battle was most brutal and the intensification of fighting, rocket and artillery attacks and house-to-house fighting reduced Berlin to rubble.

The effect on Buildings and Monuments

The group of historic landmarks and architectural masterpieces of different times and styles were not saved from demolition. Some of the famous landmark that were affected included the Reichstag, the Brandenburg gate and the Berlin … cathedral. The historical center of the city received a severe impact as many historical structures and their remnants indicated.

Impact on Residential Areas

It also decimated the residential areas by the bombings and the subsequent battle operations. Whole newlyson were turned into ashes and many families became homeless . The outcome was disaster for the civilian population many of whom lost lives during the turmoil.

Efforts in Rebuilding

Following the outbreak of war, Berlin and other major European cities were almost entirely destroyed during the war and rebuilding started only in 1945. Worst still, Germany was split into East and West, and both sides had almost different plans for Berlin hence complicating the reconstruction process.

East Berlin that was under the control of the Soviet Union was thus quickly rebuilding basic infrastructures including homes, water, and electricity and transport. This situation required the reconstruction of the city with massive prefabricated apartment buildings, which got referred to as Plattenbau.

While the East had aim to make socialist style, in West Berlin which was ruled under the authority of the three Western Allies, the rebuilding process wasn’t monotonous. When rebuilding minor necessaries structures, the focus was not only on the construction of significant structures such as Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church that serves as a symbol of the war devastation.

However, reconstructing Berlin was not a nationalistic process; it was conducted on political lines. During its development the city was full of architects, planners and engineers from all corners of the world to help in the construction of the capital. He involved himself in this kind of collaboration and in the end, Berlin was revived.

The Legacy of Destruction

Berlin to this day preserves the evidences of warfare. Some areas were leftдelownded on purpose as a result of World War II, thereby leaving a disastrous reminder of what happens. Intact structures of this sort include the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and the Berlin Wall with the East Side Gallery murals painted on it.

The war played a crucial role in molding the Berlin of today because the Second World War destroyed much of the old city’s fabric in this country. But, as you will read, Berlin’s story is not one of complete disaster and suffering. It is also a story of human spirit and human’s capacity to purchase new life out of the rubble of destruction.

Conclusion

Considering the best available information, it is quite possible to state that Berlin suffered much during the World War II. Toward this end, the bombings and battles practically leveled both the famous historical sites and neighborhoods. However, it is a fact that the city of the recent catastrophe reflects people’s strength and their desire to start it over. Presently, Berlin is one of the warm, dynamic, and growing cities where the past forges its way to a progressive future, teaching us the lessons of the victory over confinement.