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DAY 26/250 1981 – EAST BERLIN TO WEST BERLIN, GERMANY

BRANDENBERG GATE

EAST BERLIN

CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

First documented in the 13th century and at the crossing of important historic trade routes, Berlin became the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1417–1701), the Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918), the German Empire (1871–1918), the Weimar Republic (1919–1933), the Third Reich (1933–1945) and the Federal Republic of Germany. 

Berlin in the 1920s was the third-largest municipality in the world. After World War II and its subsequent occupation, Berlin was divided; West Berlin became a de facto exclave of West Germany, surrounded by the Berlin Wall (1961–1989) and East German territory. East Berlin was declared capital of East Germany, while Bonn became the West German capital. Visits to East Berlin, and therefore Checkpoint Charlie, were mandatory on Berlin tours.

Berlin is home to 44 theaters and stages. The Deutsches Theater in Mitte was built in 1849–50 and has operated almost continuously since then. The Volksbühne at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz was built in 1913–14, though the company had been founded in 1890. The Schaubühne was founded in 1962 and moved to Kurfürstendamm in 1981. With a seating capacity of 1,895 and a stage floor of 2,854 square meters, the Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin Mitte is the largest show palace in Europe.

Berlin has three major opera houses: the Deutsche Oper, the Berlin State Opera, and the Komische Oper. The Berlin State Opera on Unter den Linden opened in 1742 and is the oldest of the three. Its musical director is Daniel Barenboim. The Komische Oper has traditionally specialized in operettas and is also at Unter den Linden.

The city's main venue for musical theater performances are the Theater am Potsdamer Platz and Theater des Westens (built in 1895).

There are seven symphony orchestras in Berlin. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the preeminent orchestras in the world; it is housed in the Berliner Philharmonie near Potsdamer Platz. The Konzerthausorchester Berlin was founded in 1952 as the orchestra for East Berlin.

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