Berlin

Berlin was a Polish city or at least western Slavic in origin.

Berlin was actually founded by Western Slavic fishing tribes.  They built a reasonable size city until Eastward expanding Germans launched a series of offensives against them.  Slavic tribes were able to retake the city, but were more peaceful fishermen and tradesmen and were no match for the professional German armies that lay siege to Berlin.

Berlin the name

The city Berlin has a Slavic not a German name. Think about Berlin how it is similar to the city of Lublin.  It does not have a ‘burg’ or other Germanic endings. I think it comes from an old Slavic word meaning bog or marsh.  The slavic languages have words that sound like ‘berl’ or ’brlog’.  Meaning fishing village or bog or swamp/meadow.   The etymology of Brandenburg comes from Slavic ‘brenna’ also meaning swamp. It is 100% Slavic not German, ironically.

Slavic names in Berlin names

In fact today in section of the city there are street names with Slavic sounds and names as a legacy to their founders the Slavic people.

Tags: Berlin, origin-of-Berlin, slavic