Special Sub-Topic: Berlin Click Here To Play: Berlin

Berlin is a fully-fledged state ('Land') of the Federal Republic of Germany.

t. It is one of the three city states, the others being Hamburg and Bremen. Willy Brandt (1913-92), West German Chancellor 1969-74, first achieved international prominence as Governing Mayor ('Regierender Bürgermeister') of West Berlin, 1957-66.

What is the approximate population of Berlin?

3.7 million. This figure is low for the capital of a major European country and is the result of the particular circumstances of Berlin between 1945 and 1990.

The terrain of Berlin is for the most part _______?

Flat. Most of Berlin is extremely flat. It is, after all, on the North European Plane. The highest point in the more central part of Berlin is the Kreuzberg (66 m) in the Viktoria-Park. In the far south-eastern corner there are the Müggelberge, the highest of which is 115 m.

The largest ethnic minority in Berlin is ______?

Turkish. Berliners sometimes jokingly describe their city as the 'biggest Turkish city after Istanbul'.

The main means of rapid public mass transport in Berlin are the U-Bahn('Untergrundbahn') and the _____?

S-Bahn & Stadtbahn. S-Bahn is short for 'Stadtbahn' (city railroad). In some other German cities 'S-Bahn' is short for 'Schnellbahn' ('fast railroad').

When did Berlin first become the capital of Germany?

1871. Germany only became a politically united country with a central government in 1871 (under the leadership of Prussia). Berlin was also the capital of the Kingdom (after 1918) state of Prussia from 1701 till the German states were abolished by the Nazi regime in 1933-34. In 1949 when the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was established Bonn was chosen as the new capital, while East Berlin became the capital of the rival German Democratic Republic (East Germany). When Germany was reunited in 1990 Berlin was formally proclaimed the Federal Capital ('Bundeshauptstadt'). Berlin had a special status in international law, at least nominally, from 1945-90.

In 1945 Germany was divided into four zones, and Berlin into four sectors (American, British, French and Soviet in both cases). The position of the three Western sectors of Berlin (that is, West Berlin) was precarious. Why?

West Berlin was a political 'island' in the Soviet Zone. With the rapid deterioration of East-West relations after 1945 West Berlin became extremely vulnerable. In June 1948 the Soviet Union imposed a blockade on the surface transport of goods to West Berlin. The Western Allies responded with the Berlin 'Airlift'. Everything from food to coal for the power-plants had to be flown in by the US, British and French air forces. The blockade failed and was lifted in May 1949, but the Western Allies made a point of stock-piling goods in West Berlin for several months after May 1949. If one wants to find a date for the start of the Cold War it would, without a doubt, be the start of the Berlin Blockade. More than anything else, it was the Berlin Blockade that marked the sudden deepening start of the longer term division of Europe into two opposing blocs. In West Germany the Berlin Airlift did much to advance idenfitication with the West.

Berlin is located near the geographical center of modern Germany.

f. Berlin is in the North-East of Germany and is less than 50 miles from the Polish border. Until 1945 Germany extended far to the East of its present borders and the position of Berlin was much more central in the past.

Central Berlin lies on two major rivers. One is the Havel, the other main river, which runs right through the historic center, is the _____?

Spree & River Spree & Spree River. The Spree is the most central river in Berlin. In the northern part of the city there is also the small Panke River. ('Spree' is pronounced 'shpray' - and has nothing to do with 'going on a shopping spree'.

The 'Fall of the Wall' (on 9 November 1989) that had separated East and West Berlin is one of the best remembered events in the collapse of Communism in Europe. In what year was the notorious Berlin Wall built?

1961. It was built to stem the growing tide of refugees and migrants from East to West Germany - and to plug the last gap in the Iron Curtain.