The Berlin Eclipse

Berlin Solar Eclipse
The Berlin Tower - symbol of  great city

In 1965 - Communist East Germany built the Berlin Television Tower. It is 1200 feet tall and sits very close to where the Berlin Wall used to be. It was officially built to send television and radio communications but it became more than that. It was a symbol of the power of the communistic government. I am guessing it was used to spy on the West. Today - that communist government has fallen - and the tower means other things. 

Today - it is a tourist destination. We went to the top to have supper as the restaurant turned a full 360 degrees. It is a very comfortable restaurant and you can hardly notice that it is moving - except when you line up two objects and look far in the distance. The plaza below is a place for musical events - shops - restaurants. It is a hub for trains - trams - buses - and subways. 

We were having lunch on the ground when this eclipse occurred. The turning of the earth caused the ball to line up with the sun - just like a solar eclipse. It lasted about 15 minutes. 

The tower is a free standing structure of steel and concrete. There are no support cables. It reminds me of the ornament you put on the top of a Christmas tree. Now - that orb is a symbol of a free democratic country that has become the 4th largest economy in the world. 

GERMANY COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN MILITARY SPENDING

Germany only spends 1.2% of the Gross Domestic Product on defense. That means of all the goods and services in the country - just 1.2% is spent on military. Japan - our other World War II foe - spends just 1% on defense. In the surrender treaty - the USA insisted on occupying  these countries - and keeping their military weak. It has worked - the countries have not attacked anyone - but they have much more money to spend on goods and services for the people. 

The United States spends more money on defense - spending than the next 7 countries combined. 

COUNTRIES RANKED BY GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

Will Germany eclipse any more countries?