Berlin today is very different from the Berlin I knew some years ago. On the 9th of November, 1989, the Wall that had divided the city from East and West since 1961 was pulled down and Germany was once again united. Strictly speaking the 'Wall' was started long before then with barbed wire and was later developed in 1962 into the concrete monstrosity that caused so much grief to so many.

Berlin is a fascinating city and its history is equally so. Visitors often go back again as it would take several years to explore it properly - Berlin truly has everything a person could need. Of the Berliners themselves, it is probably reasonable to say that they are the 'Cockneys' of Germany. The true Berliner is very nuch a 'free spirit' reflecting the cosmopolitan life style now as it did all those years ago when it was just a stopping place on the river Spree for merchants travelling the silk route. Opposite, on the other bank of the River Spree was Cölln and in 1432 the two settlements, Berlin and Cölln were officially merged and became Berlin.

The Berliners of the thirties and forties never did have much time for Hitler or the Nazi party, much to his chagrin and despite his efforts to woo them. The Nazi newspaper, Der Beobachter, never sold well in Berlin apart from being used as wrapping paper and the eventual Berlin Wall, Die Mauer, didn't faze them either. A rough laconic humour insists that they give nicknames to all the major attractions that Berlin offers and nothing is sacred to them - unless it is threatened and then they might surprise you!

I hope you enjoy the pages on Berlin and I hope to add to them as I go along. I would be happy to answer any queries on Berlin or its history - just e-mail me by clicking on the Berlin logo at the top of the page.
Grüsse aus Berlin,
Der Berliner.

Click the logo to
e-mail der berliner