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Brandenburg Gate Facts & Worksheets

The Brandenburg Gate in Germany is the remaining town gate of Berlin, which is frequently visited by tourists. The design was done by Carl Gotthard Langhans, inspired from the Acropolis in Greece.

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The Brandenburg Gate in Germany is the remaining town gate of Berlin, which is frequently visited by tourists. The design was done by Carl Gotthard Langhans, inspired from the Acropolis in Greece. It served as a historic symbol of both the division and reunification of the country during the Cold War. This arch stood witness to some of the most critical moments in the country’s history.

See the fact file below for more information on the Brandenburg Gate or alternatively, you can download our 17-page Brandenburg Gate worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL EVENTS: FROM PRUSSIA TO THE COLD WAR

  • Prussian King Frederick William II commissioned the building of the gate between 1788 and 1791 to serve as a key entry point to the city of Berlin.
  • In 1793, a quadriga statue was added on the top of the gate. It shows the goddess of victory driving a chariot pulled by four horses. The statue stayed there for a decade, until Napoleon Bonaparte took it to Paris after he successfully conquered Berlin.
  • Prussian soldiers were successfully able to regain the statue in 1814 following the fall of Napoleon’s empire. The Quadriga was installed on the top of the gate once again with an iron cross added.
  • This iron cross symbolizes the victory of Prussia over France.
  • On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler rose into power as Chancellor of Germany. A torchlight procession was done in Berlin to honor him and the Nazi Party, which passed through the gate going to the presidential palace.
  • After the Second World War, the gate survived despite heavy damages. Both East and West Berlin worked on the restoration of Brandenburg in 1961.
  • In 1961, two years after the reconstruction of the Berlin Wall, United States President John F. Kennedy delivered one of his famous speeches in front of more than 120,000 people outside the city hall of West Berlin, which is near the Brandenburg gate.
  • US President Ronald Reagan went to West Berlin in 1987 to celebrate the city’s 750th anniversary. On June 12, he delivered the famous line in front of more the 20,000 people at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin that changed the course of history: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”.
  • The gate border was reopened on December 22, 1989, when Chancellor Helmut Kohl of West Germany crossed it to meet with East German Prime Minister, Hans Mondrow.

THE BRANDENBURG GATE AFTER THE COLD WAR

  • After the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, the gate became a symbol of unity. The demolitions of the wall have taken place in the area the following year.
  • In 1990, the famous Quadriga statue on the top of the gate was removed as part of renovation efforts by East Germany.
  • In 2000, 6 million euros were spent to repair and restore Brandenburg Gate. It reopened on October 3, 2002 in time for the 12th anniversary of reunification.

OTHER FACTS ABOUT THE BRANDENBURG GATE

  • From 1945 to 1957, the Soviet flag was flown on the top of the Brandenburg gate. However, during the peaceful protests on June 17, 1953, the flag was ripped down as protests rose against the political and economic conditions in East Germany.
  • On January 15, 2015, there were 4,000 counter-demonstrators who gathered at the gate to prevent anti-Islam group Pegida supporters to march from the city hall to the gate.
  • In 2016, there were 130,000 people who gathered at the Gate to protest the attacks in a gay club in Orlando. The Gate was lit up with rainbow colors in solidarity with the victims of the incident.
  • The height of the Gate is 26 meters, made up of six Doric columns on both sides. A transverse beam supports these columns, which is 11 meters deep. There are five walkways going to the Gate.
  • About one million people traditionally go to the Gate each year to celebrate New Year’s eve. The festivities are filled with music and fireworks.
  • The Brandenburg Gate is surrounded by the Adlon Hotel, and the embassies of the United States and France.

Brandenburg Gate Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Brandenburg Gate across 17 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Brandenburg Gate worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Brandenburg Gate in Germany which is the remaining town gate of Berlin, which is frequently visited by tourists. The design was done by Carl Gotthard Langhans, inspired from the Acropolis in Greece. It served as a historic symbol of both the division and reunification of the country during the Cold War. This arch stood witness to some of the most critical moments in the country’s history.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Brandenburg Gate Facts
  • The Brandenburg Design
  • The Quadriga Statue
  • Meet the Gate Designer!
  • West and East Germany
  • Reagan’s Speech at the Gate
  • “Tear down this Wall!”
  • The Berlin Wall
  • Picture Analysis
  • Brandenburg Gate Events
  • Brandenburg Gate Art

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Link will appear as Brandenburg Gate Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 6, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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