Berlin is one of those cities with a past that doesn’t just linger; it’s visible on every street corner, woven into the very fabric of the city. But what if that history had taken a different path? Imagine a Berlin that grew undisturbed from the roaring 1920s, with its rich culture, scientific advances, and vibrant communities intact. If no Nazis, no World War II, and no Berlin Wall had ever existed, how would Berlin look today?
Here’s a journey through a "What if..." Berlin. And if you'd like to learn more about Berlin before WW2, book my Weimar Berlin Tour!
1. A Real Old Town—No Fake Nikolaiviertel
Without the devastation of World War II, Berlin would boast an authentic old town filled with timbered houses, medieval churches, and winding cobblestone streets. Imagine an area around Alexanderplatz or the Nikolaiviertel that is truly centuries-old, not the carefully reconstructed facades of today. Picture cozy, ancient eateries with weathered stone walls and bustling medieval squares where history is alive at every turn. The only downside: No TV Tower...
2. A Proud, Thriving Jewish Community
Before WWII, Berlin was home to a thriving Jewish community of 160,000 residents. In this alternate Berlin, the community would have continued to grow, potentially becoming one of the largest Jewish populations in Europe—and even the world. The area around Almsstadtstraße and Scheunenviertel near Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz would still be known as an Orthodox Jewish quarter, brimming with Yiddish culture and tradition. Berlin, as the birthplace of Reform Judaism and the city of Regina Jonas, the world’s first female rabbi, would be celebrated globally as a vibrant center of Jewish life. With no deportations to disrupt its development, the Jewish community would flourish, with synagogues, schools, and cultural institutions at its heart—testaments to a Berlin that values and preserves its rich diversity.
3. No Brain Drain: Berlin as a Scientific Powerhouse
The Nazis’ rise to power forced many of Berlin’s greatest minds into exile, or worse. In our imagined Berlin, these intellectuals would have stayed, shaping the city into one of Europe’s leading hubs for scientific research and discovery. Humboldt University, once the academic home of Nobel laureates and Einstein himself, might have become a world leader in research, perhaps even rivalling Ivy League institutions. Berlin’s reputation as an intellectual center would still be undeniable, known for its groundbreaking contributions to the sciences.
4. Babelsberg: Europe’s Hollywood
In the 1920s, Berlin’s Babelsberg studios were producing groundbreaking films that dazzled audiences worldwide. Had the Nazi era never disrupted the industry, Berlin could easily have rivaled Hollywood today. Filmmakers like Fritz Lang and Marlene Dietrich would have remained, building Berlin’s cinema culture into a global phenomenon. Imagine Berlin as the home of European cinema, a film scene that could even rival Bollywood, attracting filmmakers from around the world to this European cinematic powerhouse.
5. Kurfürstendamm: Berlin’s Theater District
Kurfürstendamm was the cultural heart of Berlin’s 1920s nightlife, with theaters, cinemas, and cabarets lining the street. In this alternate Berlin, it would be Germany’s answer to Broadway or the West End, a place to see world-class theater and cabaret in historic venues. Instead of a high-end shopping district, Kurfürstendamm would be where Berliners and tourists alike flock for a night out on the town. Hamburg would not be Germany's entertainment and musical city - it would be right here in Berlin-Charlottenburg!
6. A Mega-City: Bigger Than Ever
In the 1920s, Berlin was the world’s third-largest city after New York and London. It was larger then than it is today! Without war or division, it would have continued to grow alongside other metropolises like London and Paris. Today’s Berlin, with a population around 3.7 million, might be a mega-city of six or seven million, with sprawling suburbs and skyscrapers shaping the skyline.
7. Tempelhof: A Major International Airport
Tempelhof was once Europe’s busiest airport, symbolizing Berlin’s position as Germany’s political, cultural, and economic center. In this timeline, Tempelhof might have been replaced by an even larger, bustling airport, comparable to Heathrow or Charles de Gaulle, making Berlin a major European transit hub. The city would have a seamless air infrastructure, with direct connections to every continent—a global gateway to Germany - as Lufthansa would have never been forced to relocate to Frankfurt.
8. Germany’s Economic Capital
Many companies—Siemens, Deutsche Bank, Allianz—were founded in Berlin but moved away due to political upheaval. In an uninterrupted Berlin, these headquarters would still be there, making Berlin, not Frankfurt, Germany’s economic and financial center. With a booming stock exchange, Berlin might even sport a business district skyline to match those of Paris or London.
9. A Center for Media and Journalism
Berlin was once one of Europe’s publishing capitals, with a vibrant press and numerous newspapers. In this timeline, national television channels and news magazines would be headquartered here (instead of Cologne, Mainz, Munich and Hamburg), giving Berlin a reputation as Germany’s media capital. Imagine Berlin filled with bustling newsrooms, creative studios, and a daily pulse of reporting that keeps Germany—and the world—informed.
10. A Different Cultural Mosaic
Without WWII, Germany might never have called for guest workers, meaning Berlin would not have its sizable Turkish community, the modern Döner Kebab would have never been invented and the vibrant Kreuzberg diversity we know today might look very different. However, given the city’s international flair during the 1920s, Berlin would still attract foreign residents, though it’s hard to say which nationalities might make up its largest minority. A Berlin without the döner kebab may be hard to picture, but it would still be a cosmopolitan city with a different twist.
11. A Government District on Wilhelmstraße
Instead of the current government district, Berlin’s power centers would remain on Wilhelmstraße. The Reichstag would be without the famous glass dome, as it wouldn’t have been damaged in the war. Chancellor’s offices and government ministries would likely have stayed in historic Prussian buildings, keeping Berlin’s government area more compact and classical - though given their smaller size, newer and more modern government buildings would've been added by now.
12. Shopping on Leipziger Straße
Before the war, Leipziger Straße was Berlin’s premier shopping street, home to luxury department stores like Wertheim and Tietz. In our alternate Berlin, these grand stores would still be intact, with the street itself a high-end retail paradise similar to Harrods in London or Macy’s in New York. Instead of post-war GDR high-rises, Leipziger Straße would be a lively boulevard of beautiful stores and historic buildings, an iconic shopping destination.
(C) Waldemar Titzenthaler  (1869–1937)
13. Friedrichstraße: A High-End Nightlife and Entertainment Hub
Friedrichstraße, one of Berlin’s iconic nightlife districts in the 1920s, would have developed into an upscale social scene with bars, theaters, and high-end restaurants. Today, it might have evolved into a district filled with chic bars, cabarets, and high-end restaurants, much like Soho in London or Pigalle in Paris.
14. Terminal Train Stations, No Hauptbahnhof
Berlin would likely still have several terminal stations (as Paris and London do), creating a charming yet chaotic transit system. No grand Hauptbahnhof, but a series of historic stations buzzing with trains to every part of Europe.
15. An Expansive, Logical Public Transit Network
Without the interruption of war, Berlin’s public transportation system would likely be one of the world’s best. The U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and tram networks would have grown naturally over time, covering all corners of the city with logical, interconnected lines. Imagine Berlin’s transit network on a scale similar to Paris or London, extending across the massive city with seamless connectivity.
16. Schöneberg as a Lasting Queer Enclave
Berlin’s queer history is famous, and the Schöneberg district has always been a hub. The Institute for Sexology, founded by Magnus Hirschfeld in 1919, might still stand today, contributing to Berlin’s progressive reputation. Without Nazi interference, Berlin could have been a beacon for LGBTQ+ rights far earlier, with iconic venues like the El Dorado still standing, cementing Berlin’s reputation as a historic and progressive city for LGBTQ+ culture.
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1983-0121-500
17. A City Known for Its Culture, Not Its Dark History
Without the burden of the Holocaust and WWII, Berlin’s reputation would be known for its vibrant culture, nightlife, and historic architecture, not for its tragic past. Visitors would come to see the city’s thinkers, artists, and philosophers, and German might even still be a major language of science and diplomacy across Europe. Berlin would be Europe’s intellectual heart, remembered for its accomplishments, not its atrocities.
18. A More Nationalist Berlin?
Without WWII, the drive toward European unity might have been much slower, with nations remaining deeply rooted in nationalism and militarism. In this version of Berlin, the European Union as we know it might never have come into being, leaving Europe a patchwork of strong national identities. Military pride and historical remembrance would likely hold a more prominent place in daily life, with German strength and Prussian heritage openly celebrated. Monuments and memorials to past wars would be more numerous and more pronounced, similar to those seen in London and Paris, with German flags and military imagery woven into the cityscape. Without the process of Vergangenheitsbewältigung (coming to terms with the past), this Berlin would feel different.
19. An Extremely Expensive City
Like London or Paris, Berlin would have grown with the times, and rent would be sky-high. We’d see a marked contrast between affluent neighborhoods and working-class areas, with wealthy suburbs in the west and bustling, diverse communities in the east.
20. Berlin as the Fashion Capital of Germany
Berlin’s style was iconic in the 1920s, and it would have evolved into a city known for its unique, artistic fashion scene. Designers inspired by the avant-garde could have turned Berlin into Germany’s fashion capital (instead of Düsseldorf), with showrooms and boutiques throughout districts like Charlottenburg and Schöneberg. Imagine Berlin Fashion Week rivaling Milan or Paris, showcasing an eclectic, creative edge unique to the city.
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