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...a city no longer divided.

Imagine how it must have felt on August 13, 1961 when a city was ripped in two by the infamous Berlin Wall. Families, friends divided. The city had already suffered at the beginning of World War II, when Berlin was the capital of the Third Reich.

Stand under the Brandenburg Gate, however, and picture yourself among the throngs of the exultant crowd on November 9, 1989,
as Germany was unified. This gate had stood in no-man's land between West and East.

Take time to reflect in the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, where the ruins of the old church and the new adjacent church vividly symbolize Berlin's struggles in what is now Europe's largest city.

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Dietrich Bonhoeffer House Museum. The Bonhoeffer House (now a museum) was built in 1935 as Dietrich Bonhoeffer's parent's retirement home. Dietrich Bonhoeffer stayed here when he was in Berlin. His book, "After Ten Years", an analysis of the resistance, survived the war hidden in the house. On April 5, 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was arrested in this building. Click here to read more about the museum. Back to top.


Berlin Cathedral. Berlin Cathedral is the former court cathedral of Prussia's royal family, the Hohenzollern and was conceived as a protestant answer to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The interior was designed by Julius Raschdorff around the turn of the last century. In the Sermon Chapel there is a golden altar frieze depicting the 12 apostles. The main altar, dating from 1850, is the work of Friedrich August Stuler. The Christening and Marriage Chapel contains the altar painting "Miracle of the Pentecost" by K. Begas the Elder. Click here to read more details. Back to top.

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was built in 1891-1895 in memory of the German Emperor Wilhelm I. Despite the heavy damage suffered in World War II, it was preserved, and in 1959-61 the modern buildings, designed by Egon Eierman, were added to the complex. The ruin of the old church is one of Berlin's most famous landmarks and is nicknamed "the lipstick and the powder box". The church holds very brief church services at 5.30 and 6pm. It has some stunning blue stained glass by Gabriel Loire (1904-96). Click here for more about the church.

The Reichstag is the Parliament building and the German Republic was proclaimed here in 1918. Its had a varied history, including arson, being stormed by troops and even being wrapped up in silvery-gold cloth for its 101st birthday! See some dramatic photos. Click here for more about this magnificent building that symbolizes German freedom. Back to top.

Brandenburg Gate. Originally there were 14 gates in Berlin's old city wall and this is the last survivor. For years it was in "no-man's land", but on November 9, 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down, thousands of happy Berliners gathered here to celebrate freedom. Click here for more details and photos. Back to top.

Berlin Wall. From 1961 to 1989, a wall over a hundred miles in length and 13 feet high separated West and East Berlin, separating families and splitting a city in two. Click here to read a fascinating history. Nowadays there is not much left of this hated structure, but the East Side Gallery is trying to keep a reminder.The Check-point Charlie museum (Haus Am Checkpoint Charlie) is open daily from 9am - 10pm. Back to top.

Christian History Highlights in Berlin:
Friedrich Ernst Daniel Schleiermacher (1768-1834) was a German Protestant Theologian, known as "the father of modern theology".
Johann August Wilhelm Neander (1789-1850)
was a converted Jew, a church history professor and one of the founders of the Berlin Missionary Society.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45)
was a Berlin Pastor and professor of theology who resisted National Socialism, lived and worked here.
Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) was a World War I navy hero, theologian, author and pastor. During the war he was imprisoned in Dachau and Sachsenhausen. He went on to become the president of the Evangelical Church in Hessen and Nassau.




 


The information on this site is presented for Christians to learn more about their heritage. While every effort for accuracy has been made, please contact us if you notice anything that needs to be brought to our attention.

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