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BerlinThis article is about the city in Germany. For other articles subjects named Berlin, see Berlin (disambiguation). Berlin is the capital of Germany and its largest city, with 3,389,450 inhabitants (as of 2002; down from 4.5 million before World War II, and on the decline since German reunification in 1990). Berlin state colors are red/white/red with a black upright Berlin Bear. Berlin is located on the river Spree in the northeast of Germany. It is situated in, but not part of, the Bundesland Brandenburg.
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Formerly a part of Mark Brandenburg, Berlin has been a separate state since 1920, making it one of the three city states among today's 16 German Bundesländer.
The city and state parliament is called Abgeordnetenhaus. Berlin is governed by a Regierender Bürgermeister ("ruling mayor"), who is mayor of the city and head of the Bundesland at the same time. Presently, this office is held by Klaus Wowereit; for earlier mayors, see the list of Mayors of Berlin.
Berlin is subdivided into 12 districts called Bezirke, which have been combined from the earlier 23 districts in 1998. Since this administrational reform has not really caught on with the public (which still tends to use the traditional names), the following list displays the 23 old districts:
Brandenburg Gate (June 2003)
Berlin was founded around 1200 as two cities, Berlin and Cölln, which only united in 1307. Berlin is therefore quite old; however, not much is left of these ancient communities. Instead, the impression one gets visiting Berlin today is one of great discontinuity, visibly reflecting mainly the many ruptures in Germany's difficult history in the 20th century.
After having been the residential of the Prussian kings, Berlin only became big in the 19th century, especially after becoming the capital of the 1871 German Empire. It remained Germany's capital in the Weimar Republic and under the Nazis; it was therefore a primary target in the air raids of World War II.
After the city's separation in two, East Berlin was the capital of the GDR, while the FRG had its capital in Bonn. An island of the western world in the territory of the east, Berlin was the natural focal point of the two blocks of the Cold War. In 1961, the Berlin Wall was constructed. After the German reunification in 1990, Berlin was made the capital of all of Germany again.
Und es wölkt sich seine Stirne.
Tränenflut, aus lichten Augen,
auf.html">auf.html">auf.html">auf.html">Auf Almansors braune Locken --
Tief das Haupt gebeugt und triefend,
Und er hört viel dunkle Stimmen.
All die.html">die.html">die hohen Riesensäulen
Länger wollen sie's nicht tragen,
Es erbleichen Volk und Priester,
Und die Christengötter wimmern.
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Am Fenster stand die Mutter,
"Willst du nicht aufstehn, Wilhelm,
Daß ich nicht hör und seh;
Da tut das Herz mir weh." --
"Steh auf, wir wollen nach Kevlaar,
Die Mutter Gottes heilt dir.html">dir
Es singt im Kirchenton;
Da geht die Prozession.
Die Mutter folgt der Menge,
Sie singen beide im Chore:
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Die Mutter Gottes zu Kevlaar
Heut hat.html">hat.html">hat sie viel zu schaffen,
Ihr dar, als Opferspend,
Viel wächserne Füß und Händ.
Und wer eine Wachshand opfert,
Und wer einen Wachsfuß opfert,
Der jetzo tanzt auf dem Seil,
Dem dort kein Finger war heil.
Die Mutter nahm ein Wachslicht,
"Bring das der Mutter Gottes,
Ging seufzend zum Heiligenbild;
Das Wort aus dem Herzen quillt:
"Du Hochgebenedeite,
Du Königin des Himmels,
Zu Köllen in der Stadt,
Kapellen und Kirchen hat.
"Und neben uns wohnte Gretchen,
Marie, dir bring ich ein Wachsherz,
Ich will auch spät und früh
Gelobt seist du, Marie!"
Die schliefen im Kämmerlein;
Ganz leise geschritten herein.
Sie beugte sich über den Kranken
Ganz leise auf sein Herze,
Und hat noch mehr geschaut;
Die Hunde bellten so laut.
Da lag dahingestrecket
Es spielt auf den bleichen Wangen
Ihr war, sie wußte nicht wie;
Gelobt seist du, Marie!
Aus der Harzreise
.
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