See soorce fer Berlin

{{Fix Scots|date=Januar 2021}}
{{Infobox German state
| Name          = Berlin
| German_name   =
| image_photo   = {{Photomontage|position=center
| photo1a = Siegessaeule Aussicht 10-13 img4 Tiergarten.jpg
| photo2a = Braniborská brána.jpg
| photo2b = Journalists during the Berlin Film Festival in 2008.jpg
| photo3a = East Side Gallery.JPG
| photo3b = Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin, 2011.jpg
| photo4a = Reichstag building Berlin view from west before sunset.jpg
   | size = 280
   | spacing = 2
   | color = 
   | border = 0
   | foot_montage = {{nobreak|Frae tap: Skyline includin the [[Fernsehturm Berlin|TV Tower]],}}<br>[[Brandenburg Gate]], [[Berlin Internaitional Film Festival]],<br>[[East Side Gallery]] ([[Berlin Waw]]), [[Alte Nationalgalerie]],<br>[[Reichstag bigin]] (Bundestag)
}}
|state_coa=DEU Berlin COA.svg
|coa_size=70px
|map=Berlin in Germany and EU.png
|map_size=270px
|map_text=Location within [[European Union]] an Germany
|flag=Flag_of_Berlin.svg
|area=891.85
|area_source=
|population=3562166
|pop_ref=<ref name="Population11">{{cite web|url=https://www.statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de/BasisZeitreiheGrafik/Bas-Einwohnerregister.asp?Ptyp=300&Sageb=12041&creg=BBB&anzwer=11|title=Amt für Statistik Berlin Brandenburg|work=[[Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg]]|year=2014|accessdate=5 March 2015|language=German}}</ref>
|pop_date=December 2014
| elevation = 34
| demonym       = Berliner
| GDP           = 94.7
| GDP_year      = 2010
|GDP_ref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/sen-wirtschaft/konjunkturdaten/a_03.pdf?start&ts=1272613011&file=a_03.pdf|title=Bruttoinlandsprodukt (nominal) in BERLIN seit 1995|language=German|date=30 March 2010|accessdate=15 May 2011|archive-date=2011-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612112055/http://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/content/sen-wirtschaft/konjunkturdaten/a_03.pdf?start&ts=1272613011&file=a_03.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Website       = [http://www.berlin.de/international/index.en.php berlin.de]
|leader_title=[[Govrenin Mayor o Berlin|Govrenin Mayor]]
|leader= Michael Müller
|leader_party= SPD
|ruling_party1=[[Social Democratic Pairty o Germany|SPD]]
|ruling_party2=[[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]]
|votes=4
|divisions=12 [[Boroughs an localities o Berlin|boroughs]]
| NUTS          = DE3
| State         = Berlin
| Vorwahl       = 030
| Kfz           = B<small> (for earlier signs see note)</small><ref>Prefixes for vehicle registration wur introducit in 1906, but aften chyngit due tae the poleetical chynges efter 1945. Vehicles wur registered unner the follaein prefixes: "I A" (1906– Aprile 1945; devalidatit on 11 August 1945); no prefix, anerlie digits (syne Julie till August 1945), "БГ" (=BG; 1945–1946, for caurs, lorries an busses), "ГФ" (=GF; 1945–1946, for caurs, lorries an busses), "БМ" (=BM; 1945–1947, for motor bikes), "ГМ" (=GM; 1945–1947, for motor bikes), "KB" (i.e.: [[Allied Kommandatura|Kommandatura]] of Berlin; for aw o Berlin 1947–1948, continued for [[Wast Berlin]] till 1956), "GB" (i.e.: Greater Berlin, for [[East Berlin]] 1948–1953), "I" (for East Berlin, 1953–1990), "B" (for Wast Berlin as o 1 Julie 1956, continued for aw o Berlin syne 1990).</ref> 
| iso region    = DE-BE
| PLZ           = 10001–14199
|coordinates   = {{coord|52|30|2|N|13|23|56|E|display=inline,title}}
| date          = September 2010
}}
'''Berlin''' is the [[caipital|caipital city]] o [[Germany]] an is ane o the 16 [[states o Germany]]. Wi a population o 3.45&nbsp;million fowk, Berlin is Germany's maistmuckle city. It is the seicont maist populous ceety proper an the seivent maist populous urban airt in the [[European Union]].

==History==
===Etymology===
The origin o the name ''Berlin'' is uncertain. It mey hae its ruits in the leid o [[Wast Slavs|Wast Slavic]] indwallers o the area o the day's Berlin, an mey be relatit tae the Auld [[Polabian leid|Polabian]] stem ''berl-''/''birl-'' ("swamp").<ref>{{Cite book|last=Berger|first=Dieter|title=Geographische Namen in Deutschland|publisher=Bibliographisches Institut|year=1999|isbn=3-411-06252-5}}</ref> Fowk etymology connects the name tae the German wird for beir, ''Bär''. A beir appears in the coat o airms o the city.<ref name="Somers2008">{{cite book|author=Steven Somers|title=Those Crazy Germans!: A Lighthearted Guide to Germany|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1h8NE0iud1IC&pg=PA12|date=14 July 2008|publisher=Xlibris Corporation|isbn=978-1-4535-6595-7|page=12}}</ref>

===12t tae 16t centuries===
[[File:ZLB-Berliner Ansichten-Januar.jpg|thumb|Cairt o Berlin in 1688]]

The earliest evidence o settlements in the area o the day's Berlin are a widden rod datit frae approximately 1192<ref name="zycwaq">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |title=Berlin dig finds city older than thought|accessdate=18 August 2008}}</ref> an leftowers o widden hoosepairts datit tae 1174 foond in a 2012 diggin in Berlin Mitte.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=dpa |title=Berlin ist älter als gedacht: Hausreste aus dem Jahr 1174 entdeckt|accessdate=24 August 2012|url=http://www.berlin.de/aktuelles/berlin/2674414-958092-berlin-ist-aelter-als-gedacht-hausreste-.html}}</ref> The first written records o touns in the area o present-day Berlin date frae the late 12t century. [[Spandau]] is first mentioned in 1197 an [[Köpenick]] in 1209, althou thir area did nae jyn Berlin till 1920.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlin.de/tourismus/sehenswuerdigkeiten.en/00175.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612020333/http://www.berlin.de/tourismus/sehenswuerdigkeiten.en/00175.html|archivedate=12 June 2008|title=Spandau Citadel|work=Berlin tourist board|accessdate=18 August 2008}}</ref> The central pairt o Berlin can be traced back tae twa touns. [[Cölln]] on the [[Fischerinsel]] is first mentioned in a 1237 document, an Berlin, athort the [[Spree]] in what is nou cried the [[Nikolaiviertel]], is referenced in a document frae 1244.<ref name="zycwaq"/> The umwhile (1237) is considered tae be the foondin date o the city.<ref name=Medtradc>{{cite web|title=The medieval trading center|url=http://www.berlin.de/berlin-im-ueberblick/geschichte/handelsstadt.en.html|accessdate=11 June 2013|location=www.berlin.de}}</ref> The twa touns ower time formed close economic an social ties. In 1307 thay formed an alliance wi a common external policy, thair internal admeenistrations still bein separatit.<ref name="Stöver2010">Stöver B. Geschichte Berlins. Verlag CH Beck, 2010. ISBN 978-3-406-60067-8</ref><ref name="Lui stadtgr">[http://berlingeschichte.de/stadtentwicklung/texte/articles/1_02_stadtgr Stadtgründung Und Frühe Stadtentwicklung], Luisenstädtischer Bildungsverein. Retrieved 10 June 2013</ref>

In 1415, [[Frederick I, Elector o Brandenburg|Frederick I]] acame the [[prince-elector|elector]] o the [[Margraviate o Brandenburg]], which he ruled till 1440.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.west.net/~antipas/protected_files/news/europe/hohenzollerns.html|title=The Hohenzollern Dynasty|work=Antipas|accessdate=18 August 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807093738/http://www.west.net/~antipas/protected_files/news/europe/hohenzollerns.html|archivedate=7 August 2007}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807093738/http://www.west.net/~antipas/protected_files/news/europe/hohenzollerns.html |date=2007-08-07 }}</ref> During the 15t century his successors wad establish Berlin-Cölln as caipital o the margraviate, an subsequent members o the [[Hohenzollern]] faimily ruled till 1918 in Berlin, first as electors o Brandenburg, then as kings o Proushie, an eventually as [[German emperor]]s. In 1443, [[Frederick II, Elector o Brandenburg|Frederick II Airntuith]] stairtit the construction o a new [[Stadtschloss, Berlin|ryal palace]] in the twin city Berlin-Cölln. The protests o the toun ceetizens against the biggin culminatit in 1448, in the "Berlin Indignation" ("Berliner Unwille").<ref>[http://www.diegeschichteberlins.de/geschichteberlins/berlinabc/stichworteag/555-berliner-unwillen.html Berliner Unwillen]. ''Verein für die Geschichte Berlins e.&nbsp;V.'' Retrieved 30 May 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/serie-was-den-berliner-unwillen-erregte/7301932.html Was den "Berliner Unwillen" erregte.]. ''Der Tagesspiegel'', 26 Oktober 2012</ref> This protest wis nae successfu, houever, an the ceetizenry lost mony o its poleetical an economic privileges. Efter the ryal palace wis finished in 1451, it gradually came intae uise. Frae 1470, wi the new elector [[Albrecht III Achilles, Elector o Brandenburg|Albrecht III Achilles]], Berlin-Cölln acame the new ryal residence.<ref name="Lui stadtgr"/> Offeecially, the Berlin-Cölln palace acame permanent residence o the Brandenburg electors o the Hohenzollerns frae 1486, when [[John Cicero, Elector o Brandenburg|John Cicero]] came tae power.<ref>{{cite web|title=The electors' residence|url=http://www.berlin.de/berlin-im-ueberblick/geschichte/residenzstadt.en.html|accessdate=11 June 2013|location=www.berlin.de}}</ref> Berlin-Cölln, houiver, haed tae gie up its status as a free [[Hanseatic League|Hanseatic]] city. In 1539, the electors an the city offeecially became [[Lutheran]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smp-protein.de/SMPConference/berlin.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818100934/http://www.smp-protein.de/SMPConference/berlin.htm|archivedate=18 August 2006|title=Berlin Cathedral|work=SMPProtein|accessdate=18 August 2008}}</ref>

===17t tae 19t centuries===
[[File:Friedrich Zweite Alt.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Frederick the Great]] (1712–1786) wis ane o Europe's [[enlichtened monarch]]s.]]

The [[Thirty Years' War]] atween 1618 an 1648 devastatit Berlin. Ane third o its hooses war damaged or destroyed, an the city lost hauf o its population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/germany/bra30.html|title=Brandenburg during the 30 Years War|work=WHKMLA|accessdate=18 August 2008}}</ref> [[Frederick William I, Elector o Brandenburg|Frederick William]], kent as the "Great Elector", that haed succeedit his faither [[George William, Elector o Brandenburg|George William]] as ruler in 1640, initiatit a policy o promotin immigration an releegious tolerance.<ref name="Carlyle1853">{{cite book|author=Thomas Carlyle|title=Fraser's Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PME1mMFlEMcC&pg=PA63|year=1853|publisher=J. Fraser|page=63}}</ref> Wi the [[Edict o Potsdam]] in 1685, Frederick William offered asylum tae the French [[Huguenot]]s.<ref name="Plaut1995">{{cite book|author=W. Gunther Plaut|title=Asylum: A Moral Dilemma|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oirvylPVAhAC&pg=PA42|date=1 January 1995|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-95196-2|page=42}}</ref> Bi 1700, approximately 30 percent o Berlin's residents war French, acause o the Huguenot immigration.<ref name="Gray2007">{{cite book|author=Jeremy Gray|title=Germany|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z5t5mZE_s5YC&pg=PA49|year=2007|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74059-988-7|page=49}}</ref> Mony ither immigrants came frae [[Bohemie]], [[Pols–Lithuanian Commonweel|Poland]], an [[Airchbishopric o Salzburg|Salzburg]].<ref name="Cybriwsky2013">{{cite book|author=Roman Adrian Cybriwsky|title=Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qb6NAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA48|date=23 May 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-61069-248-9|page=48}}</ref>

[[File:Berlin Unter den Linden Victoria Hotel um 1900.jpg|thumb|left|Berlin acame the caipital o the [[German Empire]] in 1871 an expandit rapidly in the follaein years. (Unter den Linden in 1900)]]

Syne 1618, the Margraviate o Brandenburg haed been in [[personal union]] wi the [[Duchy o Proushie]]. In 1701, houever, the dual state formed the [[Kinrick o Proushie]], as [[Frederick III, Elector o Brandenburg]] nou crouned himsel as king [[Frederick I o Proushie|Frederick I in Proushie]]. Berlin acame the caipital o the new Kinrick. This wis a successfu attempt tae centralise the caipital in the very ootspread state, an it wis the first time the city began tae grow. In 1709 Berlin merged wi the fower ceeties o Cölln, Friedrichswerder, Friedrichstadt an Dorotheenstadt unner the name Berlin, "Haupt- und Residenzstadt Berlin".<ref name="Stöver2010"/>

In 1740, Frederick II, kent as [[Frederick the Great]] (1740–1786), came tae pouer.<ref name="Zaide1965">{{cite book|author=Gregorio F. Zaide|title=World History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kq512SmGMIsC&pg=PA273|year=1965|publisher=Rex Bookstore, Inc.|isbn=978-971-23-1472-8|page=273}}</ref> Unner the rule o Frederick II, Berlin acame a centre o [[the Enlichtenment]].<ref name="PerryChase2012">{{cite book|author1=Marvin Perry|author2=Myrna Chase|author3=James Jacob |author4=Margaret Jacob |author5=Theodore Von Laue|title=Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics, and Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YYIJAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA444|date=1 January 2012|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=1-133-70864-1|page=444}}</ref> Follaein Fraunce's veectory in the [[War o the Fowert Coaleetion]], [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] mairched intae Berlin in 1806, but grantit sel-govrenment tae the city.<ref name="Lewis2013">{{cite book|author=Peter B. Lewis|title=Arthur Schopenhauer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6TBXX9KVtzsC&pg=PA57|date=15 February 2013|publisher=Reaktion Books|isbn=978-1-78023-069-6|page=57}}</ref> In 1815, the city acame pairt o the new [[Province o Brandenburg]].<ref name="StaffInc.2010">{{cite book|author1=Harvard Student Agencies Inc. Staff|author2=Harvard Student Agencies, Inc.|title=Let's Go Berlin, Prague & Budapest: The Student Travel Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nj0YqD4ntvIC&pg=PA83|date=28 December 2010|publisher=Avalon Travel|isbn=1-59880-914-8|page=83|access-date=2015-07-23|archive-date=2015-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914181704/https://books.google.com/books?id=Nj0YqD4ntvIC&pg=PA83|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Industrial Revolution]] transformed Berlin during the 19t century; the city's economy an population expandit dramatically, an it acame the main railwey hub an economic centre o Germany. Addeetional suburbs suin developed an increased the area an population o Berlin. In 1861, neighborin suburbs includin [[Wedding (Berlin)|Wedding]], [[Moabit]] an several ithers war incorporatit intae Berlin.<ref name="Schulte-Peevers2010">{{cite book|author=Andrea Schulte-Peevers|title=Lonel Berlin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DKlXQS6c3p0C&pg=PA25|date=15 September 2010|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74220-407-9|page=25}}</ref> In 1871, Berlin acame caipital o the newly foondit [[German Empire]].<ref name="Stöver2013">{{cite book|author=Bernd Stöver|title=Berlin: A Short History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LVA8AQAAQBAJ&pg=PT20|date=2 October 2013|publisher=C.H.Beck|isbn=978-3-406-65633-0|page=20}}</ref> In 1881, it acame a city destrict separate frae Brandenburg.<ref name="Strassmann2008">{{cite book|author=W. Paul Strassmann|title=The Strassmanns: Science, Politics and Migration in Turbulent Times (1793-1993)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5cCuBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA26|date=15 June 2008|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=978-1-84545-416-6|page=26}}</ref>

===20t tae 21st centuries===
[[File:Kirchner 1913 Street, Berlin.jpg|thumb|150px|''Street, Berlin'' (1913) bi [[Ernst Ludwig Kirchner]]]]

In the early 20t century, Berlin haed acome a fertile grund for the [[German Expressionism|German Expressionist]] movement.<ref name="HollandGawthrop2001">{{cite book|author1=Jack Holland|author2=John Gawthrop|title=The Rough Guide to Berlin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-EsJWmKCSa8C&pg=PA361|year=2001|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=978-1-85828-682-2|page=361}}</ref> In fields such as [[airchitectur]], [[pentin]] an [[film|cinema]] new forms o airteestic styles war inventit. At the end o [[Warld War I]] in 1918, a [[Weimar Republic|republic]] wis proclaimed bi [[Philipp Scheidemann]] at the [[Reichstag (biggin)|Reichstag biggin]]. In 1920, the [[Greater Berlin Act]] incorporatit dozens o suburban ceeties, veelages, an estates aroond Berlin intae an expandit city. The act increased the area o Berlin frae {{convert|66|to|883|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. The population almaist doubled an Berlin haed a population o aroond fower million. During the [[Weimar culture|Weimar era]], Berlin unnerwent poleetical unrest due tae economic uncertainties, but acame a renained centre o the [[Roarin Twenties]] an aa.  The metropolis experienced its heyday as a major warld caipital an wis kent for its leadership roles in science, technology, the humanities, city plannin, film, heicher eddication, govrenment, an industries. [[Albert Einstein]] rose tae public prominence during his years in Berlin, bein awairdit the [[Nobel Prize for Pheesics]] in 1921.

[[File:Potsdamer Platz 1945.jpg|thumb|left|Berlin in ruins efter [[Warld War II]] ([[Potsdamer Platz]], 1945).]]

In 1933, [[Adolf Hitler]] an the [[Nazi Pairty]] [[Machtergreifung|came tae pouer]]. NSDAP rule effectively destroyed Berlin's Jewish community, which haed nummered 160,000, representin ane-third o aw Jews in the kintra. Berlin's Jewish population fell tae aboot 80,000 as a result o emigration atween 1933 an 1939. Efter [[Kristallnacht]] in 1938, thoosands o the city's persecutit groups war imprisoned in the nearby [[Sachsenhausen concentration camp]] or, stairtin in early 1943, war shipped tae [[death camp]]s, such as [[Auschwitz]].<ref>[http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005450 Berlin<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> During Warld War II, muckle pairts o Berlin war destroyed in [[Battle o Berlin (air)|the 1943–45 air raids]] an during the [[Battle o Berlin]]. Aroond 125,000 ceevilians war killed.<ref>{{citation|last=Clodfelter|first=Michael|title=Warfare and Armed Conflicts- A Statistical Reference to Casualty and Other Figures, 1500–2000|edition=2nd|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2002|isbn=0-7864-1204-6}}</ref> Efter the [[end o Warld War II in Europe|end o the war in Europe]] in 1945, Berlin received lairge nummers o refugees frae the Eastren provinces. The victorious pouers dealt the city intae fower sectors, analogous tae the [[Allied-occupied Germany|occupation zones]] intae which Germany wis dividit. The sectors o the [[Wastren Allies]] (the Unitit States, the Unitit Kinrick an Fraunce) formed [[Wast Berlin]], while the [[Soviet Union|Soviet sector]] formed [[East Berlin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/psf/box31/t297c01.html|title=Agreement to divide Berlin|work=FDR-Library|accessdate=18 August 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Berlinermauer.jpg|thumb|The [[Berlin Waw]] in 1986, pentit on the wastren side. Fowk crossin the sae-cried "death strip" on the eastren side war at risk o bein shot.]]

Aw fower [[Allies o Warld War II|Allies]] shared admeenistrative responsibilities for Berlin. Houever, in 1948, when the Wastren Allies extendit the siller reform in the Wastren zones o Germany tae the three wastren sectors o Berlin, the [[Soviet Union]] imposed a [[Berlin Blockade|blockade]] on the access routes tae an frae Wast Berlin, which lay entirely inside Soviet-controlled territory. The [[Berlin airlift]], conductit bi the three wastren Allies, owercame this blockade bi supplyin fuid an ither supplies tae the city frae Juin 1948 tae Mey 1949.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.western-allies-berlin.com/historic-events/detail/airlift-blockade|title=Berlin Airlift / Blockade|publisher=Western Allies Berlin|accessdate=18 August 2008}}</ref> In 1949, the Federal Republic o Germany wis foondit in [[Wast Germany]] an eventually includit aw o the American, Breetish, an French zones, excludin those three kintras' zones in Berlin, while the [[Marxist-Leninist]] [[East Germany|German Democratic Republic]] wis proclaimed in East Germany. Wast Berlin offeecially remained an occupied city, but it poleetically wis aligned wi the Federal Republic o Germany despite Wast Berlin's geografic isolation. Airline service tae Wast Berlin wis grantit anly tae American, Breetish, an French airlines.

[[File:West and East Germans at the Brandenburg Gate in 1989.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Berlin Waw#The Faw|faw o the Berlin Waw]] on 9 November 1989. On [[German Unity Day|3 October 1990]], the [[German reunification]] process wis formally finished.]]

The foondin o the twa German states increased [[Cauld War]] tensions. Wast Berlin wis surroondit bi East German territory, an East Germany proclaimed the Eastren pairt as its caipital, a muiv that wis nae recognised bi the wastren powers. East Berlin included maist o the historic centre o the city. The Wast German govrenment established itsel in [[Bonn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlin.de/berlin-im-ueberblick/geschichte/1945.en.html|title=Berlin official website; History after 1945|publisher=City of Berlin|accessdate=8 April 2009}}</ref> In 1961, East Germany began the biggin o the [[Berlin Waw]] atween East an Wast Berlin, an events escalatit tae a tank staundoff at [[Checkpoint Charlie]]. Wast Berlin wis nou de facto a pairt o Wast Germany wi a unique legal status, while East Berlin wis de facto a pairt o East Germany. [[John F. Kennedy]] gae his "''[[Ich bin ein Berliner]]''" – speech in 1963 unnerlinin the US support for the Wastren pairt o the city. Berlin wis completely dividit. Althou it wis possible for Wastreners tae pass frae ane tae the ither side throu strictly controlled checkpynts, for maist Eastreners traivel tae West Berlin or Wast Germany wis prohibitit. In 1971, a [[Fower Pouer Agreement on Berlin|Fower-Pouer agreement]] guaranteed access tae an frae Wast Berlin bi caur or train throu East Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usa.usembassy.de/etexts/ga5-710903.htm|title=Ostpolitik: The Quadripartite Agreement of September 3, 1971|publisher=US Berlin Embassy|accessdate=18 August 2008}}</ref>

In 1989, wi the end o the Cauld War an pressur frae the East German population, the Berlin Waw fell on 9 November an wis subsequently maistly demolished. The day, the [[East Side Gallery]] preserves a muckle portion o the Waw. On 3 October 1990, the twa pairts o Germany war [[German reunification|reunified]] as the Federal Republic o Germany, an Berlin again acame the offeecial German caipital. In 1991, the German Pairlament, the [[Bundestag]], [[Deceesion on the Caipital o Germany|votit tae muive the seat]] o the (Wast) German caipital frae Bonn tae Berlin, which wis completit in 1999. [[Berlin's 2001 admeenistrative reform]] merged several destricts. The nummer o boroughs wis reduced frae 23 tae 12. In 2006, the [[2006 FIFA Warld Cup Final|FIFA Warld Cup Final]] wis held in Berlin.

== Politics ==
=== Burghs ===
{{Main|Burghs an localities o Berlin}}
[[File:BerlinDistricts.svg|thumb|right|Cairt o Berlin's twal burghs an thair localities.]]

Berlin is subdividit intae [[Burghs an localities o Berlin|twal burghs]] (''Bezirke''), doun frae 23 burghs afore [[Berlin's 2001 admeenistrative reform]]. Each borough contains a nummer o localities (''Ortsteile''), which aften hae historic ruits in aulder municipalities that predate the formation o Greater Berlin on 1 October 1920 an became urbanized an incorporatit intae the ceety. Mony residents strangly identifee wi thair localities or burghs. At present Berlin consists o 95 localities, which are commonly made up o several ceety neighborhuids—cried ''[[Kiez]]'' in the [[Berlin dialect]]—representin sma residential area.

Each burgh is govrened bi a burgh cooncil (''Bezirksamt'') consistin o five cooncilors (''Bezirksstadträte'') an a burgh mayor (''Bezirksbürgermeister''). The burgh cooncil is electit bi the burgh assembly (''Bezirksverordnetenversammlung''). The burghs o Berlin are no independent municipalities, housomeivver. <!-- ([[urban destrict]], ''Stadtkreis'') --> The pouer o burgh govrenments is limitit an subordinate tae the Senate o Berlin. The burgh mayors form the cooncil o mayors (''Rat der Bürgermeister''), led bi the ceety's govrenin mayor, which advises the senate.

The localities hae nae local govrenment bodies, an the admeenistrative duties o the umwhile locality representative, the ''Ortsvorsteher'', wur taken ower bi the burgh mayors.

=== Sister ceeties ===
Berlin maintains offeecial pairtnerships wi 17 ceeties.<ref name=Berlinsistercities>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/staedteverbindungen/staedtepartnerschaft_ueberblick.de.html|title=Berlin's international city relations|work=Berlin Mayor's Office|accessdate=22 August 2010|archive-date=2010-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908235902/http://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/staedteverbindungen/staedtepartnerschaft_ueberblick.de.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Town twinnin atween Berlin an ither ceeties began wi Los Angeles in 1967. East Berlin's pairtnerships wur canceled at the time o German reunification an later pairtially reestablished. Wast Berlin's pairtnerships haed previously been restrictit tae the borough level. Durin the Cauld War era, the pairtnerships haed reflectit the different power blocs, wi Wast Berlin pairtnerin wi caipitals in the Wast, an East Berlin maistly pairtnerin wi ceeties frae the [[Warsaw Pact]] an its allies.

Thare are several joint projects wi mony ither ceeties, such as [[Copenhagen]], [[Helsinki]], [[Johannesburg]], [[Shanghai]], [[Seoul]], [[Sofia]], [[Sydney]], an [[Vienna]]. Berlin participates in internaitional ceety associations such as the Union o the Caipitals o the European Union, Eurocities, Netwirk o European Ceeties o Cultur, Metropolis, Summit Conference o the Warld's Major Ceeties, Conference o the Warld's Caipital Ceeties. Berlin's offeecial sister ceeties are:<ref name=Berlinsistercities/>
{| style="background:none;"
|-
|valign="top"|
* 1967 [[File:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] '''[[Los Angeles]]''', [[Unitit States]]
* 1987 [[File:Flag of France.svg|20px]] '''[[Paris]]''', [[Fraunce]]
* 1988 [[File:Flag of Spain.svg|20px]] '''[[Madrid]]''', [[Spain]]
* 1989 [[File:Flag of Turkey.svg|20px]] '''[[Istanbul]]''', [[Turkey]]
* 1991 [[File:Flag of Poland.svg|20px]] '''[[Warsaw]]''', [[Poland]]<ref name="Warsaw">{{cite web|url=http://um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/new/index.php?dzial=aktualnosci&ak_id=3284&kat=11|title=Miasta partnerskie Warszawy|work=um.warszawa.pl|publisher=Biuro Promocji Miasta|date=4 May 2005|accessdate=29 August 2008|archive-date=2007-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011111033/http://um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/new/index.php?dzial=aktualnosci&ak_id=3284&kat=11|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1991 [[File:Flag of Russia.svg|20px]] '''[[Moscow]]''', [[Roushie]]
|valign="top"|
* 1991 [[File:Flag of Hungary.svg|20px]] '''[[Budapest]]''', [[Hungary]]
* 1992 [[File:Flag of Belgium.svg|20px]] '''[[Brussels]]''', [[Belgium]]
* 1993 [[File:Flag of Indonesia.svg|20px]] '''[[Jakarta]]''', [[Indonesie]]
* 1993 [[File:Flag of Uzbekistan.svg|20px]] '''[[Tashkent]]''', [[Uzbekistan]]
* 1993 [[File:Flag of Mexico.svg|20px]] '''[[Mexico Ceety]]''', [[Mexico]]
* 1994 [[File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg|20px]] '''[[Beijing]]''', [[Fowkrepublic o Cheenae|Cheenae]]
|valign="top"|
* 1994 [[File:Flag of Japan.svg|20px]] '''[[Tokyo]]''', [[Japan]]
* 1994 [[File:Flag of Argentina.svg|20px]] '''[[Buenos Aires]]''', [[Argentinae]]
* 1995 [[File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg|20px]] '''[[Prague]]''', [[Czech Republic]]
* 2000 [[File:Flag of Namibia.svg|20px]] '''[[Windhoek]]''', [[Namibie]]
* 2000 [[File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|20px]] '''[[Lunnon]]''', [[Unitit Kinrick]]
|}

==Notable fowk==
*[[Alexander von Humboldt]] 
*[[Marlene Dietrich]], German actress an sangster
*[[Wilhelm II, German Emperor]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Freemit airtins ==
{{commons|Berlin}}

{{States o the Federal Republic o Germany}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Berlin| ]]
[[Category:Caipitals in Europe]]
[[Category:Ceeties in Germany]]
[[Category:States o Germany]]
[[Category:Host ceeties o the Simmer Olympic Gemmes]]