Berlin City of Change

Transcription

1 Berlin City of Change Berlin has been molded like hardly any other city by a history of frequent change. The city s rapid rise in the 19th century came to an abrupt end when the Nazis seized power in Berlin is the city in which World War II and the extermination of the Jews were planned and from which these events were directed. In 1945, it lay in ruins and would soon become divided. In 1948/49, after the Soviets sealed off Berlin from the outside world, Allied forces used an airlift to keep West Berliners supplied with goods. In 1961, the erection of the Wall marked the ultimate division of the city. After the fall of the Wall on November 9, 1989, Berlin grew back together. At many locations in the city, you can experience this history firsthand, for example at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, along the former route of the Wall and at the Topography of Terror exhibition. The German capital s open interaction with its own history continues to create fertile space for new ways of thinking. Indeed, Berlin now lies at the heart of a uniting Europe and has become an open, creative and internationally oriented metropolis. Pankow Reinickendorf Lichtenberg Spandau Charlottenburg- Wilmersdorf Mitte Friedrichshain- Kreuzberg Marzahn- Hellersdorf Tempelhof- Schöneberg Neukölln Steglitz- Zehlendorf Treptow- Köpenick

2 for history. Stages in an Eventful History In the 13th century, Berlin developed out of two settlements known as Berlin and Cölln. Since then, the German capital has experienced many highs and lows, and its face has changed like that of no other city. Today, for 3.4 million people from over 180 nations, Berlin is the place to be. Berlin during the German Reich Landesarchiv Berlin, Waldemar Titzenthaler In 1871, Berlin became the capital of the newly founded German Reich and the political, economic and cultural center of the German empire. From then on, the city grew at a rapid pace. In 1871, Berlin had roughly 826,000 inhabitants, but by 1900, its population had grown to 1.9 million. Soon thereafter, political discontent and hunger during the First World War led to mass strikes and, finally, to revolution. Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated on November 9, 1918, and SPD politician Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed the republic from a balcony of the Reichstag. Golden Age & Coming of the Depression In the Golden Twenties, Berlin underwent a period of dazzle and excitement. The horror of war and the specter of inflation had been overcome, and a new attitude toward life had taken hold of the city. In 1925, greater Berlin had roughly 4 million inhabitants. It had become Europe s largest industrial city and cultural center, shaped by names such as Bertolt Brecht, Marlene Dietrich, Fritz Lang, Walter Gropius, Albert Einstein and George Grosz. Berlin s nightlife in this period was wild and ecstatic. The heyday of the Golden Twenties ended abruptly in 1929 with the coming of the depression. bpk Berlin 2009 Nazism and the Persecution of the Jews Landesarchiv Berlin On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of the German Reich. Among the victims of Nazi persecution were political opponents, Jews, Sinti and Roma, homosexuals and the disabled. On November 9, 1938 the so-called Reichspogromnacht synagogues in Berlin were burnt to the ground, Jewish shops were destroyed and Jewish Berliners were humiliated and imprisoned. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and the Second World War began. At the Wannsee Conference held in 1942, the Nazis planned the systematic annihilation of Europe s Jews. Of the 160,000 Jews living in Berlin in 1933, roughly 90,000 succeeded in emigrating to other countries by By the time the war ended, more than 60,000 had been deported and murdered. Berlin s Division into Occupied Zones Landesarchiv Berlin After the German army surrendered unconditionally on May 8, 1945, Berlin was divided into four sectors. The United States, Great Britain and France occupied the western part of the city, while the Soviet Union held on to the eastern part. During the night of June 24, 1948, the Soviets began a coordinated blockade of Berlin s western sectors. In a historic move, the Western Allies used an airlift to keep Berliners supplied for almost a year until the Soviets lifted the blockade on May 12, The founding of the Federal Republic of Germany on May 23, 1949 and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) on October 7, 1949 created two German states. Berlin s special status under the Allies remained in force until reunification on October 3, In spite of everything, I still believe that deep down people are good. Anne Frank

3 for history. THE BUILDING OF THE ANTI-FASCIST PROTECTIVE WALL TORE FAMILIES APART ALMOST OVER NIGHT. BORDER CROSSINGS BECAME DEATH STRIPS LIKE HERE AT POTSDAMER PLATZ. The Wall and the Division of Berlin On August 13, 1961, the pavement was suddenly torn up, concrete pillars were rammed into the ground and coils of barbed wire were set out. In order to stop the continuous flight of GDR citizens across the sector s open border with West Berlin, the GDR had decided to build a wall between East and West. Berliners on both sides of the border were stunned: Families were divided, and some East Berliners fled to West Berlin by jumping out of their windows at the last moment. In the years thereafter, the border areas were expanded into death strips, and the system of control was continuously perfected. After 1961, over 100,000 GDR citizens attempted to escape by either fleeing across the border between the two Germanies or by going directly over the Berlin Wall. At least 136 people lost their lives along the Berlin Wall, which stood for more than 28 years. It was part of the Iron Curtain and an oppressive symbol of the Cold War, which divided the world into East and West. The Wall in Facts and Figures Total length of the border surrounding West Berlin 155 km Urban border between East and West Berlin 43 km Border between West Berlin and the GDR ( outer ring ) 112 km Border crossing points between East and West Berlin 8 (road/rail) Border crossing points between the GDR and West Berlin 6 (road/rail) Watchtowers 302 Bunkers 20 Areas patrolled by dogs 259 Anti-vehicle trenches km Mesh fencing and signal fencing km Border patrol paths km Source: Lapp/Ritter, Die Grenze, 1997 Landesarchiv Berlin, Horst Siegmann Eric-Jan Ouwerkerk Landesarchiv Berlin, Gert Schütz Just think of the countless human tragedies that have unfolded over the last few days. A city which, although administratively divided, still had thousands of connections linking its parts every day, has had concrete stakes driven right through its heart to form a border, a kind of Great Wall of China. Willy Brandt, Governing Mayor of Berlin, August 18, 1961

4 for history. Berlin at the Center of the Peaceful Revolution. In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of Russia s Communist Party and head of the Soviet Union, ushered in a process of reform. His policy of perestroika ( restructuring ) and glasnost ( openness ) also paved the way for reforms in other communist countries. Real existing socialism began to disintegrate and Berlin was a major center of this development. Poland: Democracy s Triumph The oppositional trade union Solidarność was founded in Danzig in It emerged out of strike movements and developed into a mass movement under the leadership of Lech Walesa. On February 6, 1989, Solidarność forced the first government of an Eastern Bloc nation to engage in roundtable discussions. After a landslide victory in semi-free elections held on June 4, 1989, Solidarność officially became part of the government. In the summer of 1989, GDR citizens flocked to the West German Embassy in Warsaw, and in September of that year, the grounds were so overflowing with people that the embassy had to be temporarily closed. ap Photo Hungary: The First Tears in the Iron Curtain ap Photo Hungary, too, developed a strong democratic movement in the mid-1980s. Starting in 1987, the government began collaborating with citizens groups to implement reforms. In May 1988, the democratic reform process led to the resignation of Communist Party head János Kádár and the disempowering of the old leadership. In early May 1989, Hungarian soldiers began dismantling the barbed wire fence along the border with Austria. Reports filed by West German media sources on the events in Hungary set off the largest flight of GDR citizens in that country s history. Thousands sought refuge in the West German Embassy in Budapest, and on September 11, 1989, Hungary officially opened its border with Austria. Czechoslovakia: Thousands Flee via Prague picture-alliance/zb In November/December 1989, Czechoslovakia also experienced demonstrations that ultimately led to negotiations between the government and citizen reform movements. At the end of December 1989, author and civil rights activist Václav Havel was elected president. A few months earlier, in the summer, fleeing GDR citizens had occupied the West German Embassy in Prague. On September 30, the West German foreign minister, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, announced from the balcony of the West German Embassy in Prague that all GDR citizens at the embassy were free to leave for the West. TV images of the jubilant refugees led to an increase in the flow of refugees and prompted the GDR to close its border with Czechoslovakia on October 3, But the critical voices of GDR citizens became harder and harder to ignore. GDR: We are the people! Eric-Jan Ouwerkerk The leadership of the GDR was ineffective at thwarting the refugee movement and easing the mounting dissatisfaction among the East German population. The government continued on with business as usual and celebrated its 40th anniversary on October 7, Simultaneous protests were held throughout the country, and a number of demonstrators were brutally beaten by security forces and arrested. On October 9, roughly 70,000 people were already protesting on the streets of Leipzig, and on November 4, Berlin s famous Alexanderplatz was the setting for the largest demonstration for freedom ever seen in the GDR. Hundreds of thousands of people demanded democratic rights, the abolishment of the one-party system and chanted the now-famous slogan We are the people. For me, this is the most important sentence of these past few weeks the cry of hundreds of thousands: We are the people! Christa Wolf, author, November 4, 1989, in a speech on Berlin s Alexanderplatz

5 for history. The Fall of the Wall and the Road to Reunification On November 9, 1989, the unthinkable happened: the Berlin Wall was torn down. At the Brandenburg Gate, people danced in celebration while armed GDR border guards stood uncertain in the background. After Günter Schabowski, a representative of the GDR leadership, had provided details about the Eric-Jan Ouwerkerk GDR s new and apparently quite generous travel regulations at an early evening press Eric-Jan Ouwerkerk conference in East Berlin, thousands of GDR citizens flocked to Berlin s border crossings and forced them to open one by one. East and West Berliners embraced each other jubilantly. Still, since the GDR leadership was not yet willing to give up power, the demonstrations continued unabated. Stasi offices were occupied, and the cry We are the people soon turned into We are one people. The GDR s first free parliamentary elections were held in March 1990 and were seen as a sign of support for German reunification. In July 1990, the GDR adopted the Deutsche Mark as well as the economic and legal systems of the Federal Republic of Germany. On September 12, the four Allies and the two German Eric-Jan Ouwerkerk states came together in Moscow to sign the Two Plus Four Agreement, which ended Berlin s occupied status and provided the legal foundations for German reunification. On October 3, 1990, the German Democratic Republic officially joined the Federal Republic of Germany. That day marked the beginning of a new German unity in a united Europe. Eric-Jan Ouwerkerk Berlin, be joyful! Last night, the German people were the happiest people on earth. Walter Momper, Governing Mayor of Berlin, November 10, November 1989

6 for history. Follow the Path of the Wall with the Berliner Mauerweg Der Berliner Mauerweg Although the Berlin Wall has almost completely disappeared from the city s landscape, you can trace the former border s route either on foot or by bike with the help of the Berliner Mauerweg. Special columns provide information on historical events at each individual site. The 14-stage route is the core component of the Berlin Senate s overall plan for memorializing the Berlin Wall. East Side Gallery The East Side Gallery in Berlin s Friedrichshain district is the largest remaining section of the Berlin Wall as well as the longest open-air gallery in the world. Along a 1.3 kilometer stretch, artworks created by 118 artists from 21 countries reflect the political changes that occurred in 1989/ Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer Berlin Wall Memorial On Bernauer Strasse, the Wall separated neighbors, friends and relatives in a particularly dramatic way. The memorial located on the former death strip here provides an authentic insight into the history of the Wall. There are plans to expand the site and turn it into the Federal Republic of Germany s main Wall memorial by The ensemble of buildings and memorials includes the Documentation Center, the Chapel of Reconciliation and original sections of the Wall. The Berlin MauerGuide The Berlin MauerGuide provides a multimedia experience of the Berlin Wall. Users can enjoy a GPS-guided tour featuring comprehensive audio and video reports at 22 information sites along the former border between East and West Berlin. Antenna Audio 2008, Werner Bern Berlin Partner GmbH Matthias Fischer Berlin took advantage of the historical opportunity handed to it by reunification. After decades of division, Berliners have found their way back to one another, and the city has grown together. Klaus Wowereit, Governing Mayor of Berlin, 2009

7 . History Ute and Bernd Eickemeyer Benjamin Koehrich The Brandenburg Gate was a symbol of the Cold War all the way up to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Today, the Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of German reunification and stands at the center of its bustling capital. Berlin and German Reunification On the night of October 3, 1990, thousands of people gathered in front of the Reichstag Building in Berlin to celebrate the reunification of Germany. At the western entrance to the building, officials raised the Fahne der Einheit, a flag of unity that has flown there ever since. Almost two months later, on December 2, 1990, the reunified country experienced its first free all-german parliamentary election since This election produced a coalition government made up of Christian Democrats and Liberals under the leadership of Chancellor Helmut Kohl. The fall of the Wall kicked off a process of rapid economic transformation in Berlin and Eastern Germany. For many years, the development of new city districts such as the renewal of Potsdamer Platz, which had been a barren no-man s-land for decades made Berlin the largest construction site in Europe. In political terms, the opening of the Iron Curtain paved the way for the unification of Europe and the joining of Central and Eastern- European countries to the European Union. On June 20, 1991, Germany s Bundestag voted to officially move the nation s seat of parliament and government from Bonn to Berlin. The first constitutional body to make the move to the City on the Spree was that of the Bundespräsident (Federal President) in In April 1999, the Bundestag met for the first time in the Reichstag, which, by then, had been spectacularly redesigned by British architect Norman Foster. The federal government s move to Berlin was completed that same year. Berlin has been the seat of government ever since, with Bonn continuing to function as the home of a number of federal ministries.»one day perhaps many years or even decades from now German unity will hopefully be so self-explanatory that we will think it strange to celebrate it with a special holiday.«german President Johannes Rau, October 3, 2002

8 for business. Burgopak, Berlin Partner GmbH Matthias Fischer 20 YEARS AGO, POTSDAMER PLATZ WAS STILL A DEATH STRIP AND A NO MAN S LAND. TODAY, POTSDAMER PLATZ IS A VIBRANT LINK BETWEEN EAST AND WEST. Dynamic Location with a Bright Future Over the past several years, Berlin has undergone a rapid structural transformation from a traditional industrial city to a pioneering center of technology and services. The region s growth industries focus on advanced technology: in addition to electrical engineering, the pharmaceutical industry and mechanical engineering, these include high-tech industries in particular, such as the solar industry, biotechnology, medical technology, energy and environ mental technology, transport systems technology, information and communications technology, geo information, laser technology, nanotechnology and optical technologies. Berlin s outstanding transport infrastructure already includes its main railway station, the Hauptbahnhof, which is also Europe s largest rail junction. In just a few years, it will receive a decisive boost with the opening of the new Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport (BBI). Berlin is also one of the world s leading locations for trade fairs and congresses, and the capital offers first-class hotels and a wide range of outstanding conference venues. Among the major trade fairs held annually in Berlin are the IFA Consumer Electronics Trade Fair and the International Tourism Exchange Berlin (ITB), which attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. v Central location in the heart of Europe v Outstanding infrastructure v Germany s largest and most modern communications network v Affordable office and commercial space v Highly qualified workforce v Excellent conditions for manufacturing and production v Best subsidy conditions in the EU Rap artists and Reggae musicians, orchestras and opera divas, from Pop and Rock to Soul and German Schlager Berlin brings the sound of music to life. The city provides a strategic vantage point from which to observe the latest trends and enjoy the vast diversity of cultural life. For everyone who doesn t want to miss a thing, there s only one place to be in Germany. Frank Briegmann, President & CEO, Universal Music Germany

9 for industries. Living Innovation and Designing the Future The ich bin ein berliner. initiative, which was brought to life by the be Berlin campaign in cooperation with Berlin-based partner companies, showcases the city s tremendous potential as one of the most interesting locations for manufacturing and development in Europe. the place to be for mobility. Whether on tracks, waterways, streets or in the air: Berlin provides quick connections. As a high-performance East-West hub and Europe s largest mass transit market, it also offers intelligent networks and ideal conditions for industry and R&D. This leading status is evidenced by spectacular infrastructure projects, such as the forthcoming Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt and innovative model projects in the field of emobility. the place to be for clean technologies. Clean energy is very much at home in Berlin. The capital region paves the way in the field of clean technologies. Berlin is home to the strongest growing solar industry in Europe: more than one in every three solar modules is manufactured in the city on the Spree River. A close-knit spectrum of producers, researchers and service providers work closely together on the development of efficient technologies designed to generate, save and use energy in an environmentally friendly manner. the place to be for modern industries. Berlin is a production location with an eye on the future. After undergoing a major structural transformation in the 1990s, the German capital now boasts a high level of potential that has made it one of the major industrial capitals of the new millennium. The city s tremendous innovative strength is a result of its distinctive blend of next-generation technologies and modernized traditional sectors. Among Berlin s key industries are the electronics industry, the chemical industry, the field of metal, machine construction and automotive engineering and the food industry. the place to be for life sciences. Excellent products, new diagnostic processes and innovative treatments Berlin is one of the leading locations for life sciences in Europe. Roughly 450 companies active in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech industries along with 71 hospitals and clinics make Berlin a major Health Capital that attracts patients and highly educated professionals from all over the world. Strong industry networks as well as an above-average and highly developed health and social system complete Berlin s multifaceted profile as the health capital of Germany. the place to be for information technologies. Berlin continues to set global trends in the field of information and communications technology. The capital boasts Europe s largest digital communications network and has emerged as a major IT hub. In addition to major international corporations and highly specialized middle-sized companies, the capital city is characterized most significantly by a vibrant and creative start-up community. The region s key IT focus is placed on software engineering, mobile communications, IT security, egovernment and geo-information.»the future is being made in Berlin. Our industrial sector has re-invented itself. Today, products from Berlin are innovative and competitive on global markets. The goal of our ich bin ein berliner. initiative is to showcase this leading status.«rené Gurka, Managing Director, Berlin Partner GmbH

10 for art & culture. bpk Berlin 2009 Berlin Partner GmbH/FTB-Werbefotografie BERLIN S MUSEUM ISLAND WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR. TODAY, MUSEUM ISLAND IS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE AND ITS RESTORATION IS ALMOST COMPLETE. A Global Leader in Culture Creativity is the hallmark of the Berlin lifestyle. In the many spaces left empty in the city after the fall of the Wall, a creative diversity flourishes that is unparalleled in the world. Members of the young and experimental cultural scene as well as more established and internationally prominent artists are attracted to Berlin because it offers an ideal place to be creative in addition to low living costs and an active exchange of ideas across various fields. Fashion, art, design, architecture and music all meet here in a unique way, making culture a major sector in Berlin s economy. With more than 400 galleries and roughly 5,000 artists, Berlin is now a leading art metropolis. Over 170 museums and collections, including those on Museum Island an official World Heritage Site also make Berlin the leading location for museums in Germany. Roughly 150 stages and 3 opera houses provide theater and music enthusiasts with a unique spectrum of performances to choose from. Whether it s the Berliner Theatertreffen or the Young Euro Classic, there s always something happening in the cultural capital. It s not surprising, too, that Berlin is still the only German city to be included in UNESCO s global Creative Cities Network. v 3 opera houses, 150 theaters, more than 170 museums v Over 1,500 cultural events daily v Part of the global Creative Cities Network v Europe s biggest gallery location, with over 400 galleries v Major private art collections v Profitable cultural industries employing a workforce of more than 160,000 Berlin never tries to curry favor. It s unfinished and yet always complete. It accepts all forms of living. Most importantly, it never stagnates. I like Berlin because rubbing people the wrong way is a way of moving forward here. Because you can go astray without getting lost. Because you can develop your own speed, and you ll always find someone who ll go along with you. Maren Kroyman, actress and winner of the Preis für Zivilcourage (Civil Courage Award)

11 for fashion & design. BArch, Bild 183-S33019, Sautler V. Michalsky BERLIN WAS ALREADY AN INTERNATIONAL FASHION CAPITAL BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR. MICHALSKY Fashion Show at Friedrichstadtpalast. Inspired by Change Berlin is a city full of fractures. The new stands next to the old, the beautiful next to the ugly. This raw, unadorned mixture attracts fashion designers, photographers and trend scouts from all over the world. At top events, such as Bread & Butter, Berlin Fashion Week and the Premium trade fair, designers showcase their collections in unusual ways and at fascinating locations. The Bread & Butter trade fair presents exciting street und urban wear in the historic hangars of the now vacant Tempelhof Airport. You ll also find young fashion from Berlin in the many small shops and workshops around Hackescher Markt, in Friedrichs hain and in Prenzlauer Berg. The products found there are individual and inspired by the city s unique way of life. Roughly 800 designers and brands and Berlin s nine fashion colleges are part of this aspiring fashion capital. Berlin is also well known internationally as a center of design. One highlight of Berlin s event calendar is the DMY International Design Festival Berlin, which showcases young, experimental product design at various locations across the city. In 2006, UNESCO honored Berlin by awarding it the title of City of Design. v Roughly 800 fashion designers and labels, 9 fashion schools v Berlin Fashion Week v Affordable rents for shops, ateliers and showrooms v Diverse array of unusual event locations v Cross-industry networks v Leading trade fairs Bread & Butter and Premium v DMY International Design Festival Berlin Cities like Paris and London are established, but Berlin has a feeling similar to New York in the 1980s it s constantly developing. This is ideal for designers, because fashion is all about change. Berlin is the breeding ground that inspires me to showcase Michalsky as a lifestyle label on the international market. Michael Michalsky, fashion designer and founder of the Michalsky label

12 for science. BArch, Bild Berlin Partner GMBH / DiePhotodesigner.de THE LARGE WIND CANAL CAN STILL BE FOUND IN ADLERSHOF, WHERE IT WAS BUILT IN THE 1930s. THE CENTER FOR PHOTOVOLTAICS AT THE ULTRA-MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARK IN BERLIN-ADLERSHOF. Knowledge Berlin s Most Valuable Resource Berlin is one of the most innovative science regions in Europe. Roughly 55,000 people work here in the field of science and R&D. Young scientists from all over the world are drawn to the city s renowned universities, to its cutting-edge business locations, such as the Adlershof Technology Park, and to its leading organizations, such as the Max Planck institutes, the Helmholtz institutes and the Fraunhofer institutes. One of Berlin s unique features is the strong connection between R&D and business, which allows for the rapid transfer of knowledge into new, competitive products. Berlin also works hard to strengthen its position as a leading research location by investing heavily in R&D. The Berlin-Brandenburg region is Europe s leader in the field of life sciences. Yet another focus is on future technologies from biotechnology to transport technology. Ber lin s universities are also well-known throughout the world for their high quality. Roughly 134,000 students are currently enrolled at the city s four universities, seven universities of applied science, four art schools and 23 private university-level schools. Together, these students represent Berlin s future potential as a leading location for science. v 4 universities, 7 universities of applied science, 4 art schools and 23 private university-level schools v 70 non-university research institutes v One of Europe s most innovative locations v Highest concentration of research institutions in Europe v Strong collaboration between science and industry v Charité, one of the world s largest university hospitals v Several innovations, science and technology parks Berlin is the source of many important trends in the field of environmental protection. The science, business and political spheres enjoy a lively collaboration. The city is green in every way. This is exactly what makes Berlin so special. Its distinctive mix of creativity, international flair, diversity and love of experimentation is unique in the world. Prof. Miranda Schreurs, director of the Research Department for Environmental Policy at the Free University of Berlin

13 v the place to be for sports. Landesarchiv Berlin, Wolfgang Albrecht BOC 2009, Chai von der Laage THE COMPLETELY MODERNIZED OLYMPIC STADIUM IS THE MOST FAMOUS SPORTS VENUE IN BERLIN. A HIGHLIGHT ON BERLIN S SPORTS CALENDER: THE IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATHLETICS A Welcoming Sports Metropolis Sports get Berliners moving and not just every September, when the Berlin Marathon one of the five largest marathons in the world gets underway in the Tiergarten. Among the other highlights on Berlin s sports calendar are major events like the DFB Association Cup (soccer), the FINA World Cup in swimming and the legendary Six-Day Cycling Race, which attracts cyclists from all over the world. An exciting atmosphere can be found in the stadiums every time the local stars of the Hertha BSC soccer team take the field and the ALBA Berlin basketball team appears on the court. Berliners themselves are also very sporty, whether they re jogging, rowing, climbing or even flying kites, and there s hardly a sport that you won t find in Berlin. The City on the Spree is also a gracious host, especially in the case of top sporting events like the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the IAAF World Championships in Athletics 2009 Berlin, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup when fans from all over the world celebrate together in front of the Brandenburg Gate. v Germany s number 1 sports city v Number 2 sports city in the world (after Melbourne) v Training site for Germany s Olympic team v 26 regional training centers and 19 federal training centers v Venue for a number of leading events, including the Berlin-Marathon and the men s DFB Association Cup (soccer) v Over 2,000 sports facilities and pools, including the Olympic Stadium and 0 2 World Berlin is a true sports metropoiis because of its diversity. Berlin has popular leading teams in al major sports, and they offer fantastic sporting excitement throughout the entire year. Marco Baldi,Managing Director of the basketball team ALBA Berlin

14 for city life. Landesarchiv Berlin, max jacoby dmy08, anna.k.o. BERLIN S NIGHTLIFE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE CULTURAL VANGUARD, LIKE HERE IN THE 1960s. BERLIN CLUBS ARE FAMOUS ALL OVER THE WORLD HERE, THE PARTY NEVER ENDS. Berlin A City that Never Sleeps You ll notice it right away in the hip districts of Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg: Berlin is a young city that knows no official closing hours. As a result, life in the capital is rather vibrant and animated. Its more than 7,000 restaurants, clubs, cafés and bars are open well into the wee hours of the morning, and the music and party scene is oneof-a-kind. In all the hottest Berlin clubs, revelers dance the night away. But Berlin has much more to offer: Among the city s greatest advantages are its low cost of living and its outstanding public transportation system. Berlin also boasts roughly 2,500 public recreational parks and leisure areas, including the famous and centrally located Tiergarten, also known as the city s green lung. Boating enthusiasts can take a trip along the 197 kilometers of rivers and canals running through the city. Among the most popular destinations in the surrounding countryside are Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, the Spreewald Forest and Rheinsberg Palace. v 30 percent of Berlin s surface is rivers, lakes and parks v 197 kilometers of waterways v 600 kilometers of bike paths v Multicultural, diverse environment v 7,000 restaurants, clubs, cafés and bars v Europe s third most popular tourist destination Since the Wall came down in 1989, Berlin has become an international metropolis at the intersection of East and West, and the recipient of important influences from Eastern Europe. Berlin is my hometown, and after 25 years in the USA, I was happy to return. My life revolves around this city now. Michael Ballhaus, filmmaker

15 for city life. BArch, Bild , Herbert Hoffmann Karneval der Kulturen, Daniel Incoronato BERLIN HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE BACK IN 1930, PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER TO DANCE IN THE KROLLGARTEN. PEOPLE FROM OVER 80 NATIONS GATHER EACH YEAR AT THE COLORFUL CARNIVAL OF CULTURES IN KREUZBERG. Everyone is Welcome In the 20 years since the fall of the Wall, Berlin has developed into a city characterized by diversity, tolerance and cutting-edge culture in which over 3.4 million people from over 180 nations feel at home. This vibrancy is felt not only at events like the Carnival of Cultures in Kreuzberg, which brings together people from more than 80 nations, and the many worldmusic concerts and intercultural exhibitions, but also in the diversity of everyday life in Berlin. Likewise, roughly 40 percent of Berliners under the age of 18 years are from families that immigrated to Germany from other countries. Young people are especially attracted to Berlin. Approximately 16 percent of students enrolled at the city s university-level institutions come from abroad. For tourists from all over the world as well, the city on the Spree is a particularly attractive destination. With almost 18 million overnight stays each year, Berlin is one of Europe s three most popular destinations. And it s no wonder, too, seeing that Berlin is open to everyone, no matter their origin, religion, worldview or way of life. Berlin s Population v Inhabitants 3,416,255 _Males 1,672,226 _Females 1,744,029 _Children 406,135 _Foreigners 470,004 v Naturalizations 7,710 v New inhabitants 126,947 v Students 133,594 (Winter Semester 2008/09) v Marriages 11,511 v Average age 42.6 Source: Berlin-Brandenburg Statistical Office Berlin is a mysterious city. Nothing here is as it seems. Every time I went out to eat, I discovered that the Italian restaurant was run by a Greek, that the Japanese places were actually operated by Mongols, and that the Turkish shopkeepers next door spoke Bulgarian among themselves. No one really knows what Berliners do during the day. At night, they go to the corner pub. In reality, Berlin is just one big pub. Wladimir Kaminer, author and founder of Russendisko

16 for city life. Capital City Faces Who knows the German capital better than the 3.4 million Berliners themselves? be Berlin showcases the hundreds of stories submitted by Berliners from the street sweeper to the beach volleyball champion to the Web page since the start of the campaign. They are all Ambassadors of their city. And their numbers are growing each day. be theater, be happy, be berlin My name is Nele Winkler. I m an actress at RambaZamba. It s totally fun. I have to re ally work hard in rehearsals. I like Gisela a lot, she helps me at the theater, and she s my friend. She s been my friend for a long time. My first role was Medea, I m the youngest Medea. I live in Berlin, in Mitte. I made a film, it was called Finnish Tango. In Bremen, Norderney and then in Cologne. I ve done audio plays too, I ve already played Amelie. At home in my room, I listen to music and learn my lines and write nature poems. When I m at home, I practice my trumpet, it s fun! Sometimes I eat lots of sweets. But not too often! Nele Winkler, actress at the RambaZamba Theater / be adaptable, be brave, be berlin My name is Fadi Saad, and I m a Berliner with Palestinian roots. I work as a community organizer at the Körnerpark Community Organization in Berlin s Neukölln district and also as a youth adviser at schools, where I try to prevent young people from pursuing lives of violence and crime. I m pretty good at it, probably because I know first-hand what it s all about. I used to be a gang member myself. I stole, I fought and I did a couple of things that I truly regret. I m not proud of all that, but I am proud of the fact that I managed to completely change my attitude. My major theme is migration, i.e., the different cultural circles living in Berlin. I feel like my work is important, and I m happy about every success that we have. And I hope we ll have many more. Fadi Saad, community organizer and youth adviser in Berlin-Neukölln be sporty, be fit, be berlin Field hockey has been part of my life ever since I was little. Our whole family plays the sport, and we re considered to be one of the most successful field hockey families in the world. My father, my sister and my half-brother are Olympic champions. And in Beijing in 2008, I became one too. I trained hard for the Olympics. For a whole year, I got up at five-thirty in the morning, did power training and field training, sometimes eight hours a day. I really wanted to be a part of the Olympics, and I wanted a medal too. I never dreamt that I d win the gold medal, but as I got closer and closer, it was amazing to feel the energy and strength I was able to muster. If you re in a position to get the gold medal, you really start to want it too. Florian Keller, Olympic gold medalist in field hockey, Beijing

17 for city life. Ambassadors for Berlin The stories submitted by Berliners to the website are as diverse as the city itself. They showcase a richness of ideas and recount both small and large success stories. Each one is different, each one is special, and each story could only happen in Berlin. be spontaneous, be mobile, be berlin For my graduation project at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK), four other students and I worked jointly on the following question: How can you click on people in real life in the same way you do on the Internet? How can you show that you have shared interests or friends with people like those sitting across from you in the subways in the morning or standing next to you in a bar at night? It didn t take long before we found the answer in the form of mobile phones and our mobile community aka-aki! But we didn t just want to let aka-aki remain a graduation project. When potential investors started knocking on our door, we didn t wait long before deciding to start our own company based on our unique service for mobile phones. We re pretty sure that with a bit of courage, plenty of ideas, good friends and a lot of fun Berlin could develop its own Silicon Valley right here in the capital. Stefanie Hoffmann, founder of the mobile community aka-aki / be inquisitive, be innovative, be berlin I m managing director of IfG Institute for Scientific Instruments. Our company focuses on modern X-ray technology and X-ray optics. We offer specialized techniques for material research and process-measuring technologies that use X-rays in analysis. Our products are sold throughout the world. Until 1991, I was the director of the Center for the Development of Scientific Equipment (ZWG) in the GDR s Academy of Sciences. After the academy was disbanded, like many others, I was forced to create my own job in order to stay active. In 1993, two of my colleagues and I founded IfG. Our goal has always been to bring science and industry together. There are always new ideas worth testing. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Norbert Langhoff, managing director of the Institute for Scientific Instruments GmbH (IfG) / be different, be entrepreneur, be berlin I was already devouring books about Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie and the Rothschilds when I was in grade school. Naturally, I went on to study economics in college. But, to my surprise, the subject I had found so fascinating as a kid turned out to be very dry and boring in college. A few years later, when I became a professor, I swore to myself that I would teach economics in a different way. And who could do that better than, say, someone who started a business? In 1985, after a number of starts and stops, that is exactly where I ended up. The Teekampagne, our mail-order tea company, represents a simple idea: only a single type of tea the best one, of course, Darjeeling and only in bulk. That takes care of the middleman, transportation routes, storage fees and a whole lot of packaging material. Since the mid-1990s, Teekampagne has been the market leader in the German and one of the world s largest single importers of Darjeeling tea. Günter Faltin, professor at the Free University of Berlin (FU), entrepreneur

18 . be berlin The Capital Shows Its Colors be Berlin on Tour 2009/10: be Berlin sets out on a world tour with its slogan the place to be. At the various Berlin Days held in different cities, a number of Berlin-based artists, scientists, entrepreneurs and campaign Ambassadors give talks, present their work and discuss the latest trends. The tour is accompanied by a number of innovative art initiatives and lectures. Pieces of the Wall: Your Message for Berlin November 9, 2009: Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the city celebrates with guests from all over the world at a huge festival at the Brandenburg Gate. One is the staging of a symbolic fall of the Wall the tearing down of a styrofoam wall bearing messages written by people from all over the world at various stops on the be Berlin tour. Berliners with herz & schnauze March 2009: be Berlin launches a friendliness initiative entitled herz & schnauze ( big hearts & big mouths ). In the course of this long-term initiative, the employees of various partner organizations, including police, taxi drivers and street cleaners, will be available to answer any questions tourists and other city visitors might have. The campaign slogan is a self-ironic reference to Berliners often raw tone and sense of humor. A Show of Colors for Berlin! October 2008: Berlin becomes a city of lights and be Berlin is there. The campaign contributes two spectacular events to the Festival of Lights. For roughly 14 days, the Brandenburg Gate is lit up with messages from all over the world, and almost 5,000 people use glow sticks to create a huge, living reproduction of the be Berlin speech balloon on the historical Gendarmenmarkt. Mehr als 1000 gute Gründe, Berlin zu lieben. Welcher ist Deiner? Hummus, Döner, Soljanka, Pizza, Currywurst 1,000 Good Reasons to Love Berlin September 2008: There are many reasons to love Berlin. What s yours? The be Berlin website launches the Berliversum a combination of the name Berlin and Universum, the German word for universe where everyone can post his or her very personal reason for loving Berlin. The submitted reasons are as colorful and multi-faceted as the city itself. Mein Balkon Böötchenfahren auf der Spree Nachts mit der U-Bahn zur Party The Longest Love Letter to Berlin Gib uns Deinen Grund für Berlin. In Zusammenarbeit mit der BSR und den Medienpartnern TIP, Berliner Fenster und Ströer. COC-K-003_1000Gru nde_aufruf_da :01:51 Uhr August 2008: Roughly 2,000 Berlin messages appear as part of nine huge floor stickers at a total of eight Berlin S-Bahn stations: the Groundstripe initiative gets a lot of attention from Berliners and visitors alike and, together, the stickers form what is most likely the longest love letter Berlin has ever received. Your Message for Berlin March 2008: During a speech at the Rotes Rathaus (Berlin s city hall), Mayor Klaus Wowereit officially launches the capital city advertising campaign and calls on all Berliners to submit their own personal Berlin story. 17 year-old Klara Martens wins the slogan competition with her phrase be unique, be diverse, be Berlin. The capital city advertising campaign has reached the overwhelming majority of Berliners and succeeded in generating much enthusiasm. Now we re eager to reach people outside of Berlin by means of the national and international phase of our campaign. Klaus Wowereit, Governing Mayor of Berlin