![\"Alexanderplatz](\"https:\/\/vonortzuort.reisen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/alexanderplatz_koenigstor_um_1730-1024x711.jpg\")
On May 6, 1701, the Prussian King Frederick I entered Berlin through the Georgentor. Shortly after, the gate was renamed K\u00f6nigstor (King’s Gate) and the “square in front of the gate” was given the name “K\u00f6nigs Thor Platz” (King’s Gate Square).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the construction of the Berlin Customs Wall in 1734, the King’s Gate lost its importance and was demolished, but the square remained. Later, seven three-story buildings were built around the square. Heinrich von Kleist lived in the inn “Zum Hirschen” until his suicide and Karl Friedrich Schinkel was a permanent tenant for some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the Seven Years’ War, the Old Fritz had an 80-meter-long and 17-meter-wide riding and drill hall built next to the “K\u00f6nigs Thor Platz”, which was completed in 1800. For almost 150 years, this building dominated the area. The southern part of the square was separated from traffic by trees and served as a parade ground, the northern part was used as a market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1805, the Russian Tsar Alexander I came to visit the square. It was named Alexander Square in his honor. Despite the aristocratic name, the square was frequented by the lower classes of the population, such as fishwives, water carriers, rag merchants and day laborers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As early as 1847, Alexanderplatz began to develop into the city’s transportation hub. Horse-drawn omnibuses ran every 15 minutes. In the early 1870s, the former fortress moat was filled in and the Berlin Stadtbahn was built on it. The Alexanderplatz light rail station was built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the beginning of the 20th century Alexanderplatz experienced its heyday. The department stores Tietz, Wertheim and Hahn were built. The Berlin Teachers’ Association built the Lehrervereinshaus. Illuminated signs flickered on the buildings and life pulsated. Traffic also increased more and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There were three underground subway lines, long-distance and commuter rail traffic stopped at Alexanderplatz, and buses, horse-drawn streetcars and streetcars ran across the square. At the end of 1920, traffic collapse was imminent, so the then city councilor for construction suggested redesigning the square. First of all, the Alexander and Berolina houses were built, which were parallel to the Stadtbahn. A traffic circle with 6 converging streets was created. The world economic crisis and the enormous sums of money needed for the purchase of land slowed down further construction activities on Alexanderplatz. Even during the National Socialist era, no further buildings were erected here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, between 1941 and 1943 one of the largest air raid shelters in the city was built underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During World War II, the square was severely destroyed by Allied air raids. The Wehrmacht had entrenched itself in the tunnels of the subway and, a few hours before the end of hostilities, blew up the north-south tunnel under the Landwehr Canal, which led to the flooding of large parts of the subway system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before Alexanderplatz could be rebuilt, the war ruins first had to be cleared away. During this time, a popular black market developed on the square<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Alexanderplatz](\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Alexanderplatz,_K%C3%B6nigstor_um_1730.jpg?uselang=de\")