Introduction

Johann Gregor Memhardt, 1652

Layout of “die Beyden Churf. Residentz Stätte Berlin und Cölln at the river Spree“

Digitalized by the public library Zentral und Landesbibliothek Berlin (public Central and State Library), 2019

First official documents attest to the existence of the settlements Cölln and Berlin.

1237

1244

1307

Cölln und Berlin merge into a union.

1470

Elector Albrecht III turns the twin city Berlin-Cölln into the permanent residence of the Elector of Brandenburg.

1342

First reference of a joint city hall on the bridge Lange Brücke

1652

Court architect Johann Gregor Memhardt develops the first known city map of the twin city Berlin-Cölln.

1662–1692

Foundation and construction of Friedrichswerder, Dorotheenstadt, Friedrichstadt

1861

Incorporation of Wedding, Gesundbrunnen and Moabit into Berlin, as well as parts of the local subdistricts of Charlottenburg, Schöneberg, Tempelhof and Rixdorf

1709

Friedrichswerder, Dorotheenstadt and Friedrichstadt merge with Berlin and Cölln

1862

The Prussian city planner James Hobrecht devises a development plan for an expanding Berlin, where growth and industrialization are the defining factors of the city.

1915

Incorporation of the remaining estate district of Tiergarten (except for Bellevue Palace) and of Jungfernheide

1920

Greater Berlin is formed: The cities of Charlottenburg, Wilmersdorf, Neukölln, Spandau as well as neighbouring municipalities are merged with Berlin.

1935–1943

The Nazi regime bulldozed entire districts in the centre of Berlin to plan a future global capital Germania.

1942–1945

Air raids make approximately 50 % of today’s Mitte district uninhabitable.

1945

Following the liberation of Germany, Berlin is divided into four zones.

1946

Berlin’s municipal authorities, the Magistrate, resume their work.

1948

Division of Berlin’s municipal administration into two independent public authorities. The Magistrate governs the Eastern part of the city and the Senate the Western part.

1948

On 20th June, the Western Allies introduce the currency Deutsche Mark.

East and West Berlin have different currencies now.

1949

Foundation of the two German states: the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic

1948–1949

From 24 June 1948 until 12 May 1949, the Soviet Union blocks access by land and water to the Western zones of Berlin.

The Western Allies send supplies to the population via the Berlin Airlift.

1961

Construction of the Berlin Wall: Private traffic, professional and economic exchanges are no longer possible.

1961–1989

The so‑called death strip and the Berlin Wall separate the city as a broad swath.

1989

The border crossing at Bornholmer Straße is opened on the evening of 9th November. For the first time, Berliners visit the respective other half of the city without being checked.

1990

German reunification on 3rd October: Berlin becomes a federal state, and the municipal administrations merge.

Berlin becomes the capital of Germany.

1999

Berlin is the seat of the parliament and the government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

2001

A local government reform across the entire federal state reduces the number of Berlin districts to twelve.

From now on, the old districts of Mitte, Tiergarten and Wedding form the Berlin‑Mitte district.