Quote:
Originally Posted by JManc
Because of WW2 and more so with the Cold War. Not because of Berlin on its own as a major city stands out compared to opposed to Frankfurt, Munich or Hamburg.
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I think Frankfurt is the city that first comes to mind for non-Germans.
It's the gateway city, the hub, the nation's center, the financial and business capital. It isn't particularly interesting or historic, but it's most people's first introduction to Germany.
Bonn was chosen as the West German capital because Germans were afraid that if they chose Frankfurt, it would lessen odds of reunification. Bonn was obviously not a national capital, while Frankfurt was a natural capital, so the decision deliberately emphasized West Germany's status as a temporary entity.
Berlin wasn't the national capital until 1871, and obviously only till 1945. Post-reunification it was incredibly difficult to force the move back, involving a lot of arm-twisting, and many federal agencies never left Bonn. Bonn is boring and nondescript but wealthy and wonderfully located. Berlin is anything but boring, but bureaucrats generally aren't looking for the clubbing scene.