Reichstag

One of the most historical and spectacular buildings in Berlin, the Reichstag Building once again houses the parliament of a unified Germany. It has an amazing history, having been burned in 1933, purportedly by the communists, and used as an excuse by Hitler to start taking emergency measures by claiming that this was a sign of a coming communist revolt. (It's hard to imagine how one burns a huge stone building, but the inside was entirely wood and totally gutted.) A day later, Hitler convinced President Hindenburg to create emergency laws which suspended most civil liberties, allowing the Nazis to suppress and imprison communists and any likely sympathizers by the thousands, and sending Germans into a panic. Within a month, Hitler was the dictator of Germany. So this is were it all started!

The Reichstag was never used by Hitler for parliamentary meetings during the reign of the Third Reich and was eventually bombed and severely damaged during the war. Although it was in the West side of Berlin, building sat in ruins until it was rebuilt in the 60s, but the West German government had moved to Bonn, so it sat mostly unused. After reunification in the 1990's, Parliament moved back to Berlin and the Reichstag was again reconstructed for a purpose. The addition of this spectacular glass dome allows visitors like us to stroll to the top while taking in the incredible views of the city. The mirrors and glass are visually stunning and everyone has their cameras out. The glass is also a symbol of transparency in this new era, allowing visitors not only to look out, but to look in on the parliamentary sessions as they take place.

Reichstag Building today (with my 2 favorite girls)...


Reichstag Building in 1945...