Reichstag

The Reichstag is the building of the German parliament, where in 1894-1933 meetings were held and German laws were adopted. It is one of the symbols of Germany.

Union symbol

Surprisingly, until 1871, Germany was a weak and fragmented state, consisting of 39 separate principalities. The Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck was able to assemble a united Germany from them - strong and aggressive, with its capital in Berlin. To demonstrate the greatness and power of the young empire, it was decided to build the Reichstag - the building where German politicians were supposed to sit.

History of Creation

It was decided to build a classic symmetrical building with a characteristic dome in the style of the Italian Renaissance on the Royal Square (now Republic Square). In size and beauty, it was supposed to overshadow the Roman palaces and temples. It was entrusted to design it to the architect Paul Valotta, the construction lasted 10 years. A huge sum of 24 million Reichsmarks for the construction at that time was taken from the indemnity imposed on the defeated France following the results of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871.

The level of comfort in the Reichstag for that time was amazing. It operated: an autonomous source of electricity, central heating, telephone, plumbing, ventilation and other technical achievements of German engineers, amazing for that time.

From 1894 to 1933, a representative body of power, the Reichstag, operated here, and since 1999, the Bundestag has been operating. The history of the Reichstag was not easy and even tragic.

Fire in the Reichstag

In 1933, a fire broke out in the Reichstag, as a result of which the plenary hall and the dome were badly damaged. Hitler, whose party was already in power, took advantage of the right occasion to blame the communists, and then to completely stop the activity of parliament.

The Reichstag during World War II

The building was actively used both for military and peaceful purposes. Anti-aircraft points operated in the corner towers, the building itself was a bomb shelter and a hospital for wounded German soldiers, and in the basement there was a maternity ward of the Charité hospital. For the Soviet people, the Reichstag was a hated symbol of Nazi Germany. It was subjected to intense bombing, Soviet soldiers left thousands of autographs on its walls, and the banner of Victory was hoisted on the dome. At the end of the war, the Reichstag turned into ruins.

Rebirth

Renovation of the Reichstag building began 10 years after the end of the war. Rather, it was not a repair, but a rebuild. The restoration of the dome began only after the unification of Germany. In 1995, the Englishman Norman Foster presented his project in the form of a glass dome. So the architect managed to recreate the historical silhouette of the building, and at the same time give it a modern look.

There is an observation deck under the top of the dome, which offers a grandiose circular panorama of the German capital.