The Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor)
seen from the west side. The gate itself and
everything beyond it is in the Soviet sector (East Germany). This was 2.5
years before the Wall. The gate was built in 1788-1791 by Kaiser Wilhelm II
of Prussia; the statue on top is called the Quadriga. Originally, the
Quadriga was topped by an Iron Cross and a Prussian eagle. After World War
II, the East Germans considered these to be militaristic icons that the
Nazis identified with, and removed them, so they are not visible in this
photo. Upon reunification of Germany in 1990, they were put back.
