July 4 (Bloomberg) -- Central Berlin celebrated this Independence Day with jazz, barbecue and fireworks to mark the return of the U.S. embassy to the Brandenburg Gate, the spot it occupied before the defeat of Adolf Hitler in World War II.

Former President George H. W. Bush, who was in office when the Berlin Wall came down, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the country's first leader from the former East Germany, delivered speeches to an invited crowd of about 4,500.

The reunification of Germany in 1990 ``was the single most important event; it not only united Germany but also Europe,'' Bush told onlookers, many carrying umbrellas to shield them from the rain. ``I believe the U.S.-German relationship today is the strongest that it's ever been.''

The American mission's journey has been a long one since it bought the land 78 years ago, before the Nazi regime took power. The halt to diplomatic relations with Hitler and war-related damage preceded the former building's demolition by the East German government and concealment behind the Berlin Wall.

``If this was indeed the epicenter of the Cold War, it has now become the epicenter of a different world,'' Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on a June 25 visit to the new building. ``I know it was not easy to bring the embassy to this place. But it is absolutely fitting that the United States embassy is here where it was before World War II.''

After the Wall came down, plans for rebuilding were hampered by the Berlin city government's refusal to acquiesce to U.S. security guidelines, leading Rice's predecessor, Colin Powell, to sign a special waiver.

Security Elements

California-based architects Moore Ruble Yudell have anchored the security elements into the building, which itself has filled the last gap of the reconstructed Pariser Platz. The building is wedged between Brandenburg Gate on the side that abuts the square and the Holocaust Memorial on the other side.

The only experimental feature is a large glass portal, topped by an undulating canopy, which leads into a rotunda.

``The return of the U.S. embassy to this place is a special, moving moment for our country,'' Merkel told the crowds, as red, white and balloons filled the sky. ``I think people will walk by this building and be glad this gap has been filled.''

Many of the neighboring buildings to the embassy on Pariser Platz carried banners welcoming the newcomer. The French embassy, which stands on the opposite side of the square, sported a banner proclaiming: ``Bienvenue!''

`Candy Bomber'

Today's ``Amerikafest'' celebration falls on the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, an Allied military operation that supplied food and supplies to West Berlin after Soviet leader Josef Stalin set up a blockade. Airlift pilot Gail Halvorsen, the original ``candy bomber'' who dropped sweets for West Berlin children, was also scheduled to attend the event.

``This is the closing of a long circle dating back to before 1940 and all that's transpired in between,'' Ambassador William Robert Timken told a May 19 press conference. ``Now we are back to where we were.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Patrick Donahue in Berlin at at pdonahue1@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 4, 2008 14:11 EDT