Timezone: Berlin, Germany

Berlin is a central node in the Central European Time (CET) network. For much of the 20th century, however, Berlin’s time was as divided as its geography.

The Unified Empire

Before 1893, each German state kept its own time. To synchronize the growing railway network of the German Empire, *Mitteleuropäische Zeit* (MEZ or CET) was adopted across the entire country, anchored to the 15th meridian east of Greenwich.

Divided Time

Following World War II, Berlin was divided into East and West. While both sides generally followed the same timezone, there were occasional symbolic shifts in summer time regulations as each side sought to align more closely with Moscow or Washington. In 1980, both Germanys finally coordinated to adopt the modern European DST schedule.

The Master Clock of the PTB

Germany’s official time is not calculated in Berlin, but in Braunschweig, by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). They operate several cesium atomic clocks that provide the exact time signals used by German radio stations, railways, and internet servers.

Conclusion

Berlin’s time history mirrors the history of Europe itself: from fragmentation to unification. On the Epoch Clock, Berlin is part of the synchronized heart of Europe, where millions of people and devices share the exact same second.