2026 Trip to Germany ⑪ - Walking through the Eastern District of Berlin

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The German capital, Berlin, was divided into East and West by the "Berlin Wall" during the Cold War. East Berlin fell under the influence of socialism, while West Berlin fell under capitalism, and the Berlin Wall became a symbol of this division.

Many of Berlin's tourist attractions are located in East Berlin and were rapidly developed after the reunification of East and West Germany. Let's take a walk through the eastern district of Berlin, which tells the story of its turbulent history.

The Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of Berlin

In the first half of the 18th century, King Frederick William I of Prussia built a wall around the city of Berlin and imposed tariffs on goods passing through its 14 (later 18) gates. Of these gates, the Brandenburg Gate is the only one that still exists today.

The current gate was completed in 1791, designed by the architect Langhans. During the Cold War, the wall was built right in front of the Brandenburg Gate, rendering it useless as a gate, but it is now open for free passage.

Atop the gate stands the statue of Victoria, the goddess of victory, riding a four-horse chariot. It was taken to France during the Napoleonic Wars but was recovered after Napoleon's downfall.

Berlin Cathedral, where royalty sleeps

The island in the middle of the Spree River, which flows through Berlin, is called "Museum Island" because it is home to many museums. The most striking building on the island is the Berlin Cathedral.

Although it was damaged during World War II, it has been restored, including its beautiful interior.

It has an old-fashioned appearance, but it took its current form in 1905 during the Imperial era by order of Kaiser Wilhelm II. On the ground floor and in the basement lies the crypt of the House of Hohenzollern, the Prussian royal family.

The House of Hohenzollern is the royal (imperial) family that inherited the titles of Elector of Brandenburg, King of Prussia, and German Emperor.

In the crypt, coffins of the Hohenzollern family are on display. It is striking how much the style of the coffins differs depending on the era. Occasionally, there are small coffins, which remind us that it was a time of high infant mortality.

The Berlin Cathedral is 114 meters high, and it is possible to climb up to the dome. Climbing the approximately 270 steps is hard work, but you can overlook the city of Berlin.

Memories of the Nazi era

As is well known, Germany was ruled by the Nazis led by Hitler, which led to the devastation of World War II. Monuments commemorating that memory can be found throughout Berlin.

・Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

In the square near the Brandenburg Gate, countless concrete rectangular blocks are arranged in an orderly fashion. Its official name is the 'Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe'.

There are 2,711 of these blocks, but the number itself holds no specific meaning. It is said that they intentionally made it a monument without symbolism.

・Bebelplatz

A square located across from Humboldt University, a prestigious German institution. In 1933, under Nazi orders, approximately 25,000 books deemed 'un-German' were burned here.
It is said that Erich Kästner, whose books were among those targeted for burning, went to Bebelplatz specifically to watch his own works being incinerated.

There is a glass-covered hole in the ground, and inside is an empty bookshelf.

・Memorial to the Murdered Sinti and Roma

Strictly speaking, this spot is in the western district of Berlin, south of the Reichstag building, but I will include it in this section.

The Nazis persecuted and murdered not only Jews but also the Sinti and Roma, a minority group living in Germany. To preserve the memory of this, a small park was built in 2012. Outside the park, there is also a panel exhibition about the people who suffered under Nazi persecution.

Berlin not only flourished as the capital of Prussia and the German Empire, but it also carries the negative history of World War II and the Cold War. Walking through Berlin, you can feel the weight of that history.

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