Day 18: Berlin - Reichstag Building

We spent our 2nd full day in Berlin on-foot checking out the sites we had gotten a glimpse of on the bike tour the day before, beginning at the Reichstag Building, which houses Germany's Parliament. Being the frugal German that I am, I had bought the cheaper 2010 Rick Steves guidebook instead of the new 2012 version and didn't know that the policy on visiting the Reichstag had changed in the past year. Apparently there was a minor terrorism scare and now you have to register several days in advance to go inside. Big bummer.

Like many buildings, the Reichstag has a short but complicated history. Inaugurated in the 1890s, it was called a "house for chatting" since the real government work took place inside the city center at the Imperial Palace. It was at the Reichstag in 1918 that the independent German Republic was proclaimed. Then in 1933 it was nearly burned down. The Nazis blamed the Communists but many believe Hitler himself had it burned down, using it as an excuse to frame the commies and grab power. When the war was coming to an end, 1500 German soldiers made their last stand here, extending WW II by 2 days. The Allies had the glass cupola with its double helix walkway built on top so the people could look down into parliament. Glass was a major theme in the reconstruction of Germany to promote transparency and show the people there would be no more secrets in government.