The Brandenburg gate was build in the 1790's and has an amazing history. It was built as a sign of peace. The statue on top is of the goddess of peace driving a chariot pulled by a team of horses. The chariot is called the Quadriga.
When Napoleon conquered the Prussians in the early 1800's, he took the Quadriga to Paris. When Napoleon was defeated, they took it back and reinstalled it only they replaced the olive wreath she was holding with an iron cross and she became, Nike, the goddess of Victory.
When the Nazis came into power, the gate was their symbol. Somehow it did not get blown up in the bombing and was restored to its glory.
But then the Berlin wall was built and it was no longer accessible as it was right on the border. JFK visited in 1963 and the East Germans hung banners so he couldn't see East Germany.
When the wall came down, the mayors of East and West ceremonially walked through the gates and shook hands to mark the end of the separation.
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