Did they tell you Stalin tried to starve Berlin residents?
Looming over a small park on the Platz der Luftbrucke, the Berlin Airlift Memorial is dedicated to those who gave their lives to save people of West Berlin during Berlin Blockade. In June 24 1948, Stalin closed off all roads and railways to Berlin in an attempt to starve the people and force the Allied forces to give up the city. This memorial by architect Eduard Ludwig was unveiled in 1951 and has three prongs that represent three air corridors between West Germany and West Berlin used during the airlift. While, the Luftbruckendenkmal monument erected at the now abandoned Rhein-Main airbase of Frankfurt has an equal historical importance. This Frankfurt structure is flanked by two cargo planes, a C-54 and a Douglas C-47 Dakota bearing the painted names Rosinenbomber on their sides. Any tourist taking a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt can easily reach this monument on foot as it lies very close to Terminal 2 of Frankfurt Airport.
Looming over a small park on the Platz der Luftbrucke, the Berlin Airlift Memorial is dedicated to those who gave their lives to save people of West Berlin during Berlin Blockade. In June 24 1948, Stalin closed off all roads and railways to Berlin in an attempt to starve the people and force the Allied forces to give up the city. This memorial by architect Eduard Ludwig was unveiled in 1951 and has three prongs that represent three air corridors between West Germany and West Berlin used during the airlift. While, the Luftbruckendenkmal monument erected at the now abandoned Rhein-Main airbase of Frankfurt has an equal historical importance. This Frankfurt structure is flanked by two cargo planes, a C-54 and a Douglas C-47 Dakota bearing the painted names Rosinenbomber on their sides. Any tourist taking a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt can easily reach this monument on foot as it lies very close to Terminal 2 of Frankfurt Airport.
Why Berliners never wanted electric lamps
Berlin currently has around 44,000 wonderful gas street lights making it the largest gas lighting network in the world. The lamps cover a rage of style from 19th century wrought iron candelabras to graceful curved arc lights installed in the 1950s. Recently when authorities thought of replacing the gas lamps with electric lamps, citizens of Berlin led protest marches to save the heritage of the city’s street lamps. Even protesters took a flight from Berlin to other German cities to gain support. Meanwhile, Frankfurt happens to be the 3rd German city after Dusseldorf to have large number of gas lamps. They are almost 6,000 in number, that make the city look like a fairyland.
Berlin currently has around 44,000 wonderful gas street lights making it the largest gas lighting network in the world. The lamps cover a rage of style from 19th century wrought iron candelabras to graceful curved arc lights installed in the 1950s. Recently when authorities thought of replacing the gas lamps with electric lamps, citizens of Berlin led protest marches to save the heritage of the city’s street lamps. Even protesters took a flight from Berlin to other German cities to gain support. Meanwhile, Frankfurt happens to be the 3rd German city after Dusseldorf to have large number of gas lamps. They are almost 6,000 in number, that make the city look like a fairyland.
Mozart’s Don Giovanni welcome opera guests
The Frankfurt Opera House dates back to late 19th century. In October 1880, the building was constructed following the plans of Berlin architect Richard Lucae. The opening of the opera house was celebrated with Mozart’s Don Giovanni. After it was destroyed at the end of World War II, it took almost four decades to rebuild it. One of the most beautiful buildings of Germany, the Frankfurt Opera House received its present magnificent facade and the interior turned into a modern concert hall. It finally reopened in 1981. Incidentally architect Lucae had built many other German buildings including the Berlin Technical University. For tourists taking a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt, the opera house building is a must watch.
The Frankfurt Opera House dates back to late 19th century. In October 1880, the building was constructed following the plans of Berlin architect Richard Lucae. The opening of the opera house was celebrated with Mozart’s Don Giovanni. After it was destroyed at the end of World War II, it took almost four decades to rebuild it. One of the most beautiful buildings of Germany, the Frankfurt Opera House received its present magnificent facade and the interior turned into a modern concert hall. It finally reopened in 1981. Incidentally architect Lucae had built many other German buildings including the Berlin Technical University. For tourists taking a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt, the opera house building is a must watch.
Are your children planning to feed animals? Visit these German zoos
Berlin Zoological Garden happens to be one of the most visited zoos in Europe. It is home to around 1500 animal species. The zoo offers some great facilities for visitors such as animal feeding. Children get a chance to enjoy feeding animals like Knut, Bao Bao (the Giant Panda) and polar bears. Berlin Zoo is the first zoo of Germany founded on August 1, 1844. World War II almost destroyed the zoo and only a few animals survived. While, the second oldest zoo in Germany is Frankfurt Zoological Garden. Founded in 1858, it has about 450 different species and 4500 animals. Initially opened on trial for recreation, education and the Zoological Society, it became a permanent establishment with increase in number of visitors. World War II affected the zoo but it soon reopened. Max Schmidt, director of the Frankfurt Zoo in 1859 joined Berlin Zoo in 1885, where he built a hippo shelter in the Moorish style. He had to take a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt to compare the animal enclosures. Both zoos have a common member —- the rare Luzon Hornbill, found in only a handful zoos across the world.
Berlin Zoological Garden happens to be one of the most visited zoos in Europe. It is home to around 1500 animal species. The zoo offers some great facilities for visitors such as animal feeding. Children get a chance to enjoy feeding animals like Knut, Bao Bao (the Giant Panda) and polar bears. Berlin Zoo is the first zoo of Germany founded on August 1, 1844. World War II almost destroyed the zoo and only a few animals survived. While, the second oldest zoo in Germany is Frankfurt Zoological Garden. Founded in 1858, it has about 450 different species and 4500 animals. Initially opened on trial for recreation, education and the Zoological Society, it became a permanent establishment with increase in number of visitors. World War II affected the zoo but it soon reopened. Max Schmidt, director of the Frankfurt Zoo in 1859 joined Berlin Zoo in 1885, where he built a hippo shelter in the Moorish style. He had to take a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt to compare the animal enclosures. Both zoos have a common member —- the rare Luzon Hornbill, found in only a handful zoos across the world.
Choose your capital
Berlin being the capital of Germany, houses Schloss Bellevue, the official residence of the German President. Before 1871, Germany was not united and had no capital city. Meanwhile, Frankfurt served as the capital during the German revolution of 1848. In 1871 during the Unification of Germany, Berlin the capital of Prussia was assigned the first official capital of the united country. It remained so till 1945. In 1949 Germany was divided into West and East Germany. Berlin too was bifurcated into West and East Berlin. Frankfurt was then thought to be the capital of West Germany, but authorities wanted Berlin to remain the capital. It was feared Frankfurt, a major city, might ultimately become the permanent capital and hinder unification of West Germany. Thus Bonn was chosen as the capital. But East Berlin was the capital of East Germany all through that period. In 1990 after the unification of Germany, Berlin was once again chosen the capital and citizens often took a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt to explore the city that could have been the capital of united Germany.
Berlin being the capital of Germany, houses Schloss Bellevue, the official residence of the German President. Before 1871, Germany was not united and had no capital city. Meanwhile, Frankfurt served as the capital during the German revolution of 1848. In 1871 during the Unification of Germany, Berlin the capital of Prussia was assigned the first official capital of the united country. It remained so till 1945. In 1949 Germany was divided into West and East Germany. Berlin too was bifurcated into West and East Berlin. Frankfurt was then thought to be the capital of West Germany, but authorities wanted Berlin to remain the capital. It was feared Frankfurt, a major city, might ultimately become the permanent capital and hinder unification of West Germany. Thus Bonn was chosen as the capital. But East Berlin was the capital of East Germany all through that period. In 1990 after the unification of Germany, Berlin was once again chosen the capital and citizens often took a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt to explore the city that could have been the capital of united Germany.
Connecting through lights and wires
The General Electricity Company, a German producer of electrical equipment was previously headquartered at Berlin and later head offices were shifted to Frankfurt. The company was founded in Germany a century ago and its appliances offer outstanding performance, versatility and reliability along with superb aesthetics. Berlin based industrialist Emil Rathenau with financial support from Siemens and Halske started this company in 1883. He even acquired licenses to use some of Thomas Alva Edison’s lamp patents in Germany. In 1887 it was renamed the Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellschaft (AEG) that was largely responsible for installing Germany’s first electric power system. The company has close ties with both Berlin and Frankfurt and electrical engineers often had to take a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt on work.
The General Electricity Company, a German producer of electrical equipment was previously headquartered at Berlin and later head offices were shifted to Frankfurt. The company was founded in Germany a century ago and its appliances offer outstanding performance, versatility and reliability along with superb aesthetics. Berlin based industrialist Emil Rathenau with financial support from Siemens and Halske started this company in 1883. He even acquired licenses to use some of Thomas Alva Edison’s lamp patents in Germany. In 1887 it was renamed the Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellschaft (AEG) that was largely responsible for installing Germany’s first electric power system. The company has close ties with both Berlin and Frankfurt and electrical engineers often had to take a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt on work.
Five important artists whose works you can view at Frankfurt’s museums
Both the German cities of Frankfurt and Berlin are house to some of the top museums of the world. River Main which runs through Frankfurt’s city center is lined on both sides by some of the best museums of Germany. This area is called Museum Riverbank. Meanwhile, Museum Island in the historical heart of Berlin is home to five world class museums. These structures were built during the reign of different Prussian kings. They are rich treasure troves and exhibit artefacts such as the famous bust of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti to European paintings from 19th century. For any tourist taking a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt, The Stadel Museum is a must watch. It is a fine art museum housing masterpieces by Durer, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso and many other stalwarts.
Both the German cities of Frankfurt and Berlin are house to some of the top museums of the world. River Main which runs through Frankfurt’s city center is lined on both sides by some of the best museums of Germany. This area is called Museum Riverbank. Meanwhile, Museum Island in the historical heart of Berlin is home to five world class museums. These structures were built during the reign of different Prussian kings. They are rich treasure troves and exhibit artefacts such as the famous bust of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti to European paintings from 19th century. For any tourist taking a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt, The Stadel Museum is a must watch. It is a fine art museum housing masterpieces by Durer, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso and many other stalwarts.
The man who proposed a critical theory
Siegfried Kracauer was a German writer, journalist, sociologist, cultural critic and film theorist who has been sometimes associated with the Frankfurt School of critical theory. Born to a Jewish family in Frankfurt, he studied architecture from 1907 to 1913 and later worked as an architect in Berlin. However he changed stream and worked as the leading film and literature editor of Frankfurter Zeitung, a leading Frankfurt newspaper, as its correspondent in Berlin. So this great person seems to have a close connection with the two German cities and must have had taken a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt on his assignments as a journalist.
Siegfried Kracauer was a German writer, journalist, sociologist, cultural critic and film theorist who has been sometimes associated with the Frankfurt School of critical theory. Born to a Jewish family in Frankfurt, he studied architecture from 1907 to 1913 and later worked as an architect in Berlin. However he changed stream and worked as the leading film and literature editor of Frankfurter Zeitung, a leading Frankfurt newspaper, as its correspondent in Berlin. So this great person seems to have a close connection with the two German cities and must have had taken a flight from Berlin to Frankfurt on his assignments as a journalist.