History of Berlin

  

 

According to the legend, Margrave Albrecht went hunting around 1200 and chased a bear to its hiding place. There a young one was waiting for the mother and the margrave could not have the heart to kill the mother. He lowered his spear and said: I want to build a city here and name it after the little bearIn fact, the name Berlin goes back to the Slavic name for a dry place in the swamp (berlo). The heraldic animal was later derived from the name of the city.

 

 

 

With 3.5 million inhabitants, Berlin is the largest city in the Germany and, after the Ruhr area, the greater Cologne area and Frankfurt / Rhine-Main, the fourth largest metropolitan area.

 

 

800

In the early 9th century, the Spandau and Köpenick settlements were fortified by a wall. They are the oldest settlements in today's urban area of Berlin.

1237

The small village of Cölln on the Spree is mentioned in a document. Cölln was built in the area of ​​today's Nikolaiviertel.     

1244

Berlin is first mentioned in a document. Cölln and Berlin were both at a ford across the Spree. The long-distance trade route from Magdeburg to Poznan crossed the river at this point. Berlin became a trading city with market rights. 

1380

The great fire destroyed the joint town hall of Berlin and Cölln. 

1440

Friedrich Imade Berlin his residence city.

1447

Elector Friedrich I subjugates Berlin and enforces his sovereign claims. The disenfranchised citizens rebel against the prince, but are crushed. Berlin becomes the electoral residence city with around 6,000 inhabitants.

1540

The Reformation is introduced, Brandenburg becomes Protestant. 

1677

Elector Friedrich Wilhelm (Frederick the Great) allows Huguenots to immigrate from France. 15,000 French Protestants came to Prussia.     

1680

After the Thirty Years War, Elector "Friedrich the Great" made Prussia a state with Berlin as its capital.

1683

The Berlin city wall is completed. 

1699

Architect Andreas Schlüter converts the Berlin City Palace into a baroque residence. 

1701

Due to the immigration of the Huguenots, the population of Berlin rises to 29,000. Elector Friedrich III is crowned and becomes Friedrich I King of Prussia.     

1797

Friedrich Wilhelm III becomes King of Prussia. Many reforms are implemented under his rule. Friedrich Wilhelm III. replaced his cabinet with ministers who ran a ministry. The King of Prussia gave up power, thanks to his advisor Freiherr vom Stein. The king also donated the Old Museum in Berlin.  

1800

As the capital of Prussia, Berlin grows to 170,000 inhabitants. 

1848

At the "Berlin Conference", Africais divided among the major European powers. Germany receives colonies in what is now Togo, Cameroon, Namibia and Tanzania.  

1918

Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates after losing the First World War. Karl Liebknecht proclaims the "free socialist republic" from the balcony of the Berlin City Palace, but without possessing the necessary political power.    

1919

Karl Liebknecht is shot dead by the Guard Cavalry Rifle Division in Berlin's Tiergarten.

1920

"Greater Berlin" is created through the amalgamation of many villages and cities. With a population of 3.8 million, the new city is one of the largest cities in the world at that time. 

1921

The automobile traffic and practice road "AVUS" is opened. It served as a racing and test track and was not approved for normal traffic. The world's first autobahn opened in 1933 between Frankfurt and Darmstadt. There was a country road between Milan and Varese in 1924 that was only allowed for cars. However, this was not yet an intersection-free motorway.    

1933

Adolf Hitler is appointed Reich Chancellor. The Reichstag is set on fire, Jewish shops are boycotted and books are publicly burned.    

1939

Germany invades Poland, the Second World War begins with the storming of the Westerplatte in Gdansk.   

1942

With 4.3 million inhabitants, Berlin has reached its highest population level to date. 

1945

Berlin is conquered by the "Red Army", the war is over. The city is divided among the victorious powers Russia, USA, Great Britain and France. East Berlin becomes the capital of the GDR. West Berlin is kept alive with great financial support from the West-Germany and the USA. Raisin bombers from the Western powers supply the divided city. 

1961

The GDR is building a wall to prevent its citizens from fleeing to the West. The Berlin Wall becomes a symbol of the division of Germany.   

1989

The GDR allows its citizens to leave the country, the Berlin Wall loses its function as a border in reunified Germany. 

1991

Berlin wins the election to become the German capital against Bonn with one vote more. The Berlin Reichstag is converted into a parliament.  

2016

11 people died in a terrorist attack on the Berlin Christmas market at the Memorial Church. The assassin Anis Amri came to Germany as a refugee via Italy. Amri had spent many years in prison in Italy for criminal acts and was supposed to be deported to Tunisia. On December 19, Amri drove a stolen truck into the celebrating crowd at Breitscheidplatz. Amri was a failed petty criminal who joined the "Islamic State" to kill in the name of Allah. 

2020

Due to rising rents, a rent brake is decided. The capital's airport and the Humbold Forum are opened. The corona pandemic brings party life in Berlin to a standstill. All restaurants and clubs have to close because of the pandemic.

2021

Berlin has more then 3.5 million inhabitants.

  

 

 

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