GERMANY ~ Reichstag building - Berlin ~

... Great view of the Reichstag building located in the heart of Berlin and one of the city’s most significant historical landmarks... the Reichstag bears silent witness to the turbulent history of Berlin... the building is associated with the lighter and darker sides of German history, from the Nazi era's Reichstag fire to reunification... today it is the seat of the German parliament, the Bundestag and home to democracy... the world famous magnificent dome attracts more than 3 million visitors every year... at the top there is a roof terrace, where visitors can access the dome... it offers a panoramic view of Berlin from a height of 47m... with lovely unique First Day postmark to celebrate the 100st birthday of President Richard von Weizsäcker... Thanks a lot Dustin!【ツ】

The Reichstag was built between 1884 and 1894 by the architect Paul Wallot. The main façade (the Western one) was inspired by the Italian Renaissance style with few Baroque elements. A big staircase leads to the colonnade at the entrance. On the gable you can read “Dem Deutschen Volke”, to the German people.

In 1918, the German republic was proclaimed here, birth of the first parliamentary democracy in Germany. Only 15 years later, the Reichstag fire destroyed a great part of the building, one further step toward the establishment of the NS terror regime. The raising of the Soviet flag on the Reichstag became a symbol of the victory over Nazi Germany. During the German division, the border to the GDR would just be next to the Reichstag building.

The ruined building was made safe against the elements and partially refurbished in the 1960s, but no attempt at full restoration was made until after German reunification on 3 October 1990, when it underwent a reconstruction led by architect Norman Foster. After its completion in 1999, it once again became the meeting place of the German parliament: the modern Bundestag.

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Richard von Weizsäcker
(02-04-2020)