Consequently, Second World War had significant influence on cities of the world including the capital city of Germany; Berlin. Berlin as being the political and cultural capital of the nation was on the forefront and represented one of the strategic scenes of the Hitlerism. This paper is therefore aimed at further looking at the important events and impacts of WW2 in berlin.

The Start of the War

World War II can be considered as starting from the September 1st 1939 when Germany attacked on Poland. This led to an aggression that forced United Kingdom and France to declare a war on Germany paving way to a world war. During the initial stage of the war Berlin remained as the operational base of Hitler and the Nazi rulers.

Berlin during the War

During the war, Berlin became Vulnerable to allied air raids which would begin to bomb the city. The city was closely industrialised, which made it essential to the German warfare engine. The bombings caused extensive damage to major infrastructural amenities and so many great arched buildings and structures in the city.

Of the many horrific bombing campaigns, the worst was experienced during the Battle of Berlin in 1945. When the Soviet Union moved forward the bombings of the air and ground forces were unrelenting on Berlin. The civil infrastructure was devastated, as the Japanese authorities estimated, fifty per cent of the buildings in the city were in ruins.

The Fall of Berlin

During the periods beginning in March and ending in April of 1945, the socialist government in the USSR continued to approach Berlin the capital of Nazi Germany and Adolf Eichmann escaped into an underground bunker under the city. It was in this very bunker where Hitler, and several of the top Nazi officers chose to commit suicide rather than be captured or surrender.

It is important to know that the official surrender in Berlin to the Soviet Union occurred on May, 2, 1945. World War II in Europe ended with the surrender of Germans. But the city had found a new challenge – the division of the region by East and West.

Post-War Division

Following the end of the war, Berlin became divided into four sectors, each controlled by one of the Allied powers: The most significant powers of course being the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Soviet Union. Relations between the Allies and the Soviet Union worsened; therefore, the division of Germany as a whole was inevitable.

The Berlin Wall

It is noteworthy that in 1961 the government of the Socialist republic of Germany, which has been controlled by the USSR since 1945, constructed the Berlin wall. The wall also separated the city, East Berlin: representing the Soviet influence, and West Berlin representing the other Allied powers influence. The stock provided and excellent behind the scenes view of the Cold War and contained a very valuable tangible reinforcement of this division being the Berlin Wall.

Opening and New Berlin

The construction of the Berlin Wall began in 1961 and it physical existence remains in place until November 1989. The reunification of Germany came shortly after the reunification of Berlin that in turn led to the reunification of Berlin. Since then, Berlin has gone through quite a process of renewal and is now one of the most vibrant cultural and businesscenters.

Today ”civilian”; tourists traveling to Berlin will be able to learn about the history of the city through essays such as musuems and memorials. Some of the historical sightings include The Topography of terror, Holocaust memorial, and parts of the remainance of the Berlin Wall.

Conclusion

Of all European capitals, Berlin continues to bear the imprints of these changes that took place during and after WW2. From the devastation of bombings to the division of the city, it is a perfect example of how the German’s city of Berlin moved through the Second World War. Through its transformative story, we can learn to embrace the history of the city that adds great value to the narrative of our people.