What our people does the word "Reichstag"?It is the sky in smoke, the roar of "Katyusha", the rumble of gunfire and fleeing to the wide staircase soldiers under fire, carrying a red banner.This scene was reproduced many times directors of feature films about the war.For all the brilliance of many of them, the plausibility of the image other than the operator and acting, these episodes are still inferior to the expressive black-and-white documentary footage chronicles in 1945.
Reichstag after the war
After the war, the fate of the majestic building was sad.It has long stood half-ruined, devoid of the dome, where Soviet soldiers set the winning flag.Reichstag, perhaps today no one could see if it were not for the decision on restoration, adopted by the German Parliament.It was necessary to hold a referendum, there were three.Nine years after the victory of the ruins of an old building they decided to blow up, but the debate about his fate were fierce.Supporters of the monument to the destruction of the German imperial architecture, particularly emphasized the fact that it is associated with the Nazi past, but their opponents objected, citing the argument that well-known historical fact that Adolf Hitler never spoke at the parliamentary rostrum.At the same time all the deputies, explicitly or implicitly, irritated the Soviet flag over the Reichstag, or rather memories of him.The defeat of his country, even if it is historically justified and logical, it is unpleasant.
It was not until the sixties.The author of the project to revive the character of the German state became Paul Baumgarten and continued the case of Norman Foster.
History
Germany - a young state, it is much less years than even the United States, not to mention Russia.As one country it exists since 1871.Equally short history and German democracy: Parliament began its work in 1884, during the reign of Bismarck.At the time of formation collected from individual provinces and principalities of the country to implement the idea in stone the future great nation.Interestingly, the design competition won by the architect originally from Russia, but its implementation has not lived, for this reason, preference is given to the Germans mayest Paul Wallot, compatriot.The delay arose because of unconsciousness Count Radzinsky, who did not wish to part with the land received as a gift from the monarch.His son also did not differ tractability, he defended the principles of his late father, but by 1882 he was able to convince that the Reichstag - a matter of national importance, and the site still need to sell.The first stone was laid by William I. very majestic building was built a decade.
Fire
Many events shook the world, but World War, which began in 1914, eclipsed them.The consequences for Germany she brought the most dire, and the country began strife.Impact of German communists on the political situation in the twenties and the beginning of the next decade grew.
Adolf Hitler, received the post of chancellor of weakening the hands of the aged Hindenburg, felt threatened by the Left.He solved the problem simply - by primitive provocation, however, suffered the Reichstag.It was a fire, the blame for which was credited with four conspirators, three Germans and one Dutchman, the Communists.The building burned down, its supporting structures were seriously damaged.Presumably the Nazis carried out the arson attack, but the defense arguments no one listened, the country has a new government.
full-fledged restoration of the architectural monument Hitler decided not to.His plans did not include the consolidation of democracy, which could become the bearer of the national assembly, and it is the meaning of the word "Reichstag".
place for autographs
Fierce fighting during the assault nearly completed the destruction of Berlin, started in 1933.On the ruins of the building, the walls and columns of Soviet soldiers did a lot of memorable inscriptions noting its combat path (sometimes from Moscow and the Volga).Not all characters can be signing autographs today released because of the lexical content of some of them, but the Red Army scratched chalk that has boiled on a shower.To the credit of the German authorities most of the letters of 1945 is still preserved as a reminder of the horrors of war.There was even a proposal to maintain things as they are, for the edification of posterity.
Reichstag reconstructed four times.Since 1972, it has worked Institute of German History, the roof was flat, making grandeur in the form of reduced.A new life began in 1992, after the reunification of East and West parts of the newly unified country.Now the Reichstag - a place where political issues are solved, are the debates, adopted state laws.Then he was again crowned with a dome, which symbolizes the German people.He developed his British architect Norman Foster.
Reichstag and contemporary art
Citizens of modern Germany, brought up on European democratic traditions, there is no question about the appropriateness of happenings, such as represented by the American Hristo Yavoshevym, for some reason, in 1995, turning the Reichstag polypropylene film silver.Five million Berliners and guests looked at this spectacle, not expressing much emotion, just wondering expended polymer weight (60 tons), and its surface area (100 thousand sq. M).
Yet there on the new parliament building one section of the wall, which is not carried out bold experiments even the most progressive-minded artists.It can be seen under the transparent layer are the same inscriptions soldiers winners.They, despite numerous objections, Foster retained last reconstructor Reichstag, in memory of the Great War.
