Early History of Berlin, Germany. The political home of Germany's Federal Government and the educational center of Germany, Berlin is the nation's capital and busiest city. Although major reconstruction projects have helped make Berlin an attractive, modern city, the shadows of World War II (1939-45) and the Berlin Wall still darken its recent history. This is the seat of German power, where Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) gained control in 1933 by marching...