The term Reichstag denotes a state assembly, a collective deliberative and legislative body. The first informal gatherings at the court of the German king were recorded in 754, and from the 12th century the assembly was fixed by a treaty between representatives of the various classes of the population and the Kaiser. From 1663 the Reichstag operated on a permanent basis in the city of Regensburg in Bavaria.
Construction of the Reichstag building
The history of the modern Reichstag in Germany begins with the laying of the foundation - the first stone by Wilhelm I in 1884. The complex was erected according to the design of Paul Wolot, in the High Renaissance style, symmetrical, with the obligatory central unifying dome. The grandiose construction continued until 1894 and the parliament building was already received by Wilhelm II. Four towers at the corners symbolised Bavaria, Prussia, Württemberg and Saxony, and the dome in the centre symbolised the Kaiser. Wilhelm himself refused such a dedication and called the dome a symbol of the people.
The Kaiser did not like the building, he called it a hearse and seriously quarrelled with the architect, and by the end of construction came to mutual insults. In the end Wilhelm II refused Wolot in payments and awards.
Despite Kaiser Wilhelm's rejection of the Reichstag, the building was a model of technical progress of the time - equipped with toilets, running water, it had its own power generator, in the windows - double glazing, was equipped with central heating with temperature gauges, as well as telephones and mail with pneumatic drive.
The Reichstag in the Twentieth Century
In 1918 there was a revolution in Germany and the parliament was taken over by the proletariat. Parliamentarians led by Philipp Scheidemann hastily proclaimed Germany a bourgeois-democratic republic. The number of deputies has changed to six hundred from two hundred previously, and there is not enough room for everyone.
At the end of February 1933, the decoration of the main hall of the Reichstag is almost completely destroyed in a fire blamed on the Communists. The government no longer worked in the building, but various propaganda centres were located there. The new government does not consider the Reichstag its headquarters either, so it does not rebuild it. During the war, since 1941, the complex housed the central headquarters of the German Air Force under Goering.
In 1945, Berlin fell and the Reichstag was stormed by the Allied armies. The walls were partially reduced to rubble after bombardment and artillery fire, the dome had almost collapsed, and the interior was scrawled with commemorative inscriptions. A red flag was hoisted over the remains of the dome.
Reconstruction of the Reichstag building
After the division of the city, the Reichstag ended up on the side of West Berlin. For a long time the building was not used for its intended purpose, since the 70s some parts of the government met there and an exhibition was active. The first session of the Bundestag of the united Germany was held in the Reichstag in October 1990. Since the same year, a large-scale reconstruction of the architectural monument began under the direction of Norman Foster. The historical interior and exterior of the building was restored as much as possible and new premises were built for the work of officials. The famous dome was built anew; this was a key moment in recreating the original appearance of the Reichstag. The dome, which is accessed by two lifts, offers a 360 degree panorama of Berlin. In addition, the assembly hall can be seen from the under-dome terraces.
The towers house offices for meetings of government factions, the office of the Chancellor of the Bundestag, a bar, debate rooms and other facilities. The Reichstag is connected to the new part by underground and elevated passages across the River Spree. Nearby are the Chancellor's Office, the Swiss Embassy and the Bundestag Kindergarten.
In memory of the East Germans who died trying to escape to the west, white crosses can be seen on the fence of the Reichstag.
On a side note
- Location: Platz der Republik 1, Berlin
- Nearest underground stations: "Brandenburger Tor" line U55 .
- Official website: http://www.bundestag.de
- Opening hours: daily from 8-00 to 23-00.
- Tickets: free of charge. The tour must be booked in advance (one month in advance) on the website.
