Berlin is a city.
Berlin ( [ bəɹˈlɪn ] , [ bɛɐ̯ˈliːn ] ) is the capital and the largest city of Germany as well as one of its 16 constituent states . After World War II and its subsequent occupation by the victorious countries , the city was divided ; East Berlin was declared capital of East Germany , while West Berlin became a de facto West German exclave , surrounded by the Berlin Wall ( 1961 -- 1989 ) and East German territory .