Berlin History: A Tale of Two Sides

Frederick the Great of Prussia serves
as an example of militarism and new ideas

Before watching this documentary, I will be safe to admit that I may have known little to nothing about Berlin history. Its history may be one of the most colorful stories in the world, filled with highs and lows. Berlin had periods of violence, fear, and confusion but also served as the center for new ideas, freedom, and reform.

Berlin's conflicting history can be well represented by a famous man named Frederick the Great. Frederick, also known as Fritz, was born into the royal family and grew up rebellious. He performed classical poetry and played the flute, contrary to his father's will. At a very young age, he became engaged in the arts, despite his family's military background. When Frederick became the King of Prussia, he led a brutal and dominating military conquest, gaining control of sections of Poland, Saxony, and Austria. Frederick was a bit of a two-sided figure, who loved the arts and playing the flute but also revealed violent, dominating characteristics which foreshadows Berlin's long history of ups and downs. Fritz eventually had a statue created on the top of the Brandenburg Gate which farther on would act as the divide between East and West Berlin.

Brandenburg Gate: an old divider between East and West Berlin

Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg:
Past leaders of the communist party in Germany
who were killed for their cause

What I was truly amazed by was how well Frederick's story portrays and exemplifies Berlin's history as a whole. Fast forward to the 19th Century, East Berlin was nicknamed "Red Berlin" for all of the violence and unrest that surrounded the city. This developed after the end of World War 1 when two republics were declared, including the communist party. Two individuals named Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht lead the communist party and the political unrest lead to a bloody uprising where communists gained control of the city, and then lost control and many were killed.

May 6, 1933, the Nazi party attacked Hirschefeld's
institution while burning other books labeled "degenerate"

Despite all of the violence that existed among ideas that swarmed Berlin, Berlin became a center of freedom of censorship and expression. Censorship was being lifted as the communist party gained power, which lead to Hirschfeld taking part in gay rights activism in the 1920's and also starting a sexual research institute. The good times can only last so long however until Hitler came to power and attacked this institute while also burning literature that was considered (degenerate) in the "coming of a new age" of the Nazi Party.

The Palace of the Republic after original Stadtschloss
was torn down

It was due to separations of ideals that created the all-too-famous Berlin Wall in the first place after World War II. The wall began on "Barbed Wire Sunday" where it meant to separate Communist East Berlin and Capitalist West Berlin. This wall cut communities, families, and friends apart from each other. Both sides claimed that they were the "true Germany," and it is ironic that Berlin became the capital of Germany as it is today, despite such a past. The differences between East and West Berlin and the history behind the city makes it a perfect capital. Even the development of architecture has something to say about it as well. For example, when the Stadtschloss was torn down after the Cold War, it was the original city palace and center of the German Empire. The spot where the Stadtschloss was, they had tore it down on the East Berlin side and turned it into a palace of Republic. Some East Berliner's loved the new Parliament building but many individuals did not like the change, believing that the old Stadtschloss building meant something to the ideals of the German people and the building was renovated yet again back to its original form.


 The city reveals Germany's development through a clash of ideals, philosophies, and instability. Berlin's survival speaks wonders for the German people in what they have been able to withstand and persevere through in the past. The fact that East and West Berlin came together again is a shock to me after listening to the documentary. The story of Berlin is so similar Frederick the Great: Berlin has a militaristic background, but has developed into a country that praises, values, and supports different ideas, views, and idealistic principals.

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