UNTER DEN LINDEN

avenue in Berlin, Germany, running eastward from the Brandenburg Gate for nearly a mile. The street is named for the linden trees that formerly grew along the central promenade. The focus of Berlin's social and cultural life before World War II, Unter den Linden was lined with palaces and museums; many of the buildings were destroyed during the war. The remains of the former Imperial Palace (1538) were razed in 1951 to create a plaza. Present landmarks along the avenue include the State Library, the State Opera House, several new ministries, the Russian Embassy (1951), and Humboldt University (formerly Berlin University). During the East German period, the area was often used for mass rallies.