Berlin City Guide - 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