On 4 March 2026, members of the History & Politics Group attended a lecture titled “The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin – On the History of an Engineering Structure” at the premises of Global Bridges e.V.  The topic and the venue could not have been better matched. From the windows of the conference room, the members had an excellent view of Pariser Platz and the Brandenburg Gate.

Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Franz Prietz took the members on a fascinating exploration of the structure’s history and provided in-depth insights into its construction and the design by the brilliant architect Carl Gotthard Langhans. The Brandenburg Gate is a monument rich in symbolism, one that encapsulates the history of Berlin like few others—from the rise of Prussian power, through the division of the city, to reunification.