1) The Fall of The Berlin Wall
Probably one of the most readily anticipated answers on this list, it’s easy to think, ‘Of course, the fall of The Berlin Wall is one of the most famous events in history’, but other than reunite the two previously separated regions, how did it really affect Germany? For one thing, it was the springboard for the immensely celebrated nightlife scene in Berlin as well as birthing the artistic playground this city has come to be known for. The East was abandoned, littered with ownerless buildings and empty grocery stores – a city waiting to be grabbed. People overtook these empty infrastructures and effortlessly turned them into nightclubs and havens for artists, with youths from both East and West agreeing on techno as their soundtrack of choice. People used ruined buildings to start collectives, clubs and places to explore their interests. The untouched architecture that was left behind birthed so many of the ideas and staples Berliners have come to love.
2) World War II
There were immense political consequences after World War II that are immediately obvious, such as the erection of The Berlin Wall to divide combative political ideologies from the allies who had taken over. However, the damage of the war can be seen more subtly through the city’s architecture. So much of Berlin was destroyed that the city had to rebuild itself. In some ways it was considered a ‘rebirth’, a chance to implement new strategies in urban planning with focuses on aesthetic and modernization. For those buildings that weren’t destroyed, the vestiges of war can be felt and seen in the bullet holes as a reminder of a time no one wants to repeat. In particular, many of the buildings in East Germany didn’t have the money to rebuild, which is why so many years after the war the wounds can still be seen. This devastation gave Berlin its beloved juxtaposition of history and modernity.
3) The German Student Movement
West Berlin served as one of the main centers to a new and radical way of thinking. Students all around Germany were frustrated and fed up with the hypocrisy of their government. They wanted the university to consider their needs, rather than being cogs in a machine that was trying to churn out degrees. This marked a major shift in terms of young thinking, as many German students prior to the 1960s had been more conservative. This movement marked the birth of a more leftist way of thinking and an upheaval in student activism.
4) Taking over Tacheles
Originally a Jewish department store, then a Nazi prison, Tacheles became the art centre it is today in 1990. Tacheles is a Yiddish word that means ‘straight talk’, born from people who wanted to simply come and discuss art, drink beer and believe that things could exist in a way that was different from the oppressive past. Tacheles was an art gallery, a workshop, a night-club, and whatever it was needed to be. It was a cultural palimpsest. It embodied the very spirit of Berlin, the metropolis of change and cultural progress. This was a place that was stood as a beacon of assurance that freedom of expression was alive, and everyone from Anarchists to Dadaists flocked to it. Sadly, it has recently and finally been laid to rest, but for many years after the fall of The Wall it stood as a symbol for artists and freethinkers alike.
5) The Brandenburg Gate
It’s safe to assume any Instagrammer who has searched ‘Berlin’ has then stumbled upon a picture of The Bradenburg Gate. The ubiquitous symbol of the city was commissioned by Frederick William II to represent peace. The gate was intended to mirror the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens, demonstrated in its neoclassical architecture. Many different political parties and agendas have utilized the gate: Napoleon used it for a triumphant march while the Nazis used it as a party symbol. The gate victoriously survived World War II and later became a message of freedom and unity after The Wall came down. This extraordinary piece of architecture has worn many hats, but most importantly it has shown fortitude and resistance to defeat.
6) The Old Town of Cölln
The Altes Museum, the Neues Museum and the Bode Museum inhabit this once-upon-a-time-town, that is now a bustling isle of culture. Today, it is known as Museum Island, but it used to be the northern part of a town called Cölln. Museum Island is home to a myriad of attractive artistically edifying institutions. Thanks to the existence (and later dissolution) of this 13th-century town, Berlin has a breathtaking mini metropolis for museums that in 1999 was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Museum Island is a distinctive and iconic part of Berlin’s attractive culture-cladded ecosystem. The name Cölln still survives in a now very trendy neighborhood called Neukölln meaning new Cölln.
7) Ich Bin Eine Berliner
This infamous line pronounced ‘correctly’ by the late JFK at a speech given in West Berlin was a moment that privileged freedom. It offered an uplifting sentiment to those in West Berlin in the 1960s who feared a potential East German occupation. This speech reinforced US policies in the aftermath of The Wall and offered a reminder that freedom is an incredible, celebratory gift. JFK’s words were so positively received by Western Berliners that they renamed the public square in front of Rathaus Schöneberg to John-F-Kennedy-Platz.
8) The Love Parade
Months after The Wall was taken down in the warmth of July, a techno parade was born in West Germany. It was pioneered by Matthias Roeingh (Dr. Motte), a key player in the techno scene at the time, and his girlfriend. The first parade consisted of only 150 sound worshippers who wanted to promote their ideas through music. The main ideas behind the event included peace, understanding, and fair food production/distribution. After years of oppressive rule, surveillance and separation, the German people wanted to come together and champion for ideals they believed in, all through the vehicle of electronic dance music.
9) The Fernsehturm
The erection of the TV tower took place in the mid 1960s and was commissioned by the GDR, as it was necessary for East Berlin to have its own television broadcast system at the time. Several architects later, it has become the tallest tower in Germany and one of the most prominent symbols in Berlin. It can be seen from various areas throughout Berlin and it bodes even better views of the city from the inside. It is a must-see for many tourists and a sign of home for many Berliners.
10) The Invention of Currywurst.
True Berliners know the gluttonous glory of this other-worldy delicacy; whether it’s five in the morning outside Suicide Circus or two in the afternoon in Mitte, it’s a good time for Currywurst. The invention of Currywurst is credited to Herta Heuwer in Berlin in 1949. Apparently, Heuwer acquired some ketchup and curry powder from the British Soldiers who were in Germany at the time. Instead of stopping after the ketchup, Heuwer wisely added other spices before drowning a grilled pork sausage in it. Herta started selling the snack at a street stand in the Charlottenberg. It became a favorite of construction workers who were there rebuilding the city.
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