Once in the fortress wall surrounding Berlin, there were 14 gates. Only one to have survived - the Brandenburg gate. The gate was built in 1791 by order of the Prussian king Friedrich-Wilhelm II on the model of the propylaeum of Athens. In 1806 Napoleon ordered to remove gate with Quadriga and send to Paris as a war trophy. After 8 years of field Marshal Blucher returned the sculpture back.

In 30-ies of XX century, they acquired notoriety because of Nazi marches with torches. After the erection of the Berlin wall, the gate, caught by the GDR, became a symbol of the division of Germany. Now the Brandenburg gate again adorn the restored Quadriga, the Prussian eagle and the iron cross.