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Home - City Guide - Berlin - History | ||
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History Late 12th C Berlin and Cölln (Berlin's twin across the Spree River) are founded 1244 First documented record of Berlin 1618-48 Thirty Years' War results in the decimation of the population of Berlin/Cölln 1740-86 Berlin becomes a major European city under Frederick the Great 1806 Napoleon occupies Berlin 1871 Wilhelm I of Prussia is declared Kaiser of the German Empire and convenes the Reichstag (Imperial Assembly), making Berlin the capital 1884-94 Reichstag building is constructed 1919 The Constitution is adopted in Weimar 1920 Parliament returns to the Reichstag building 1920-30 Berlin's cultural heyday 1933 Hitler's troops torch the Reichstag 1939-45 World War II; the city is severely damaged 1948-49 Soviets blockade Berlin; Western powers undertake a massive airlift 13 Aug 1961 Berlin Wall is erected overnight 1963 John F Kennedy gives his 'Ich bin ein Berliner' speech 1988 Berlin is elected European City of Culture 9 Nov 1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall 1990 Reunification of the two halfs of the city 1991 Berlin is proclaimed as future capital of the new, unified Germany 19 Apr 1999 Reichstag is officially opened as the new seat of the German Parliament |