Berlin is the capital of Germany. During the time period that the book was written, Berlin was in shambles. This is the result of the Treaty of Versailles. Germany was required to take financial responsibility for the war in the form of reparations. Additionally, they had to give up 13% of their land, which made up 48% of Germany's iron and coal production ("The Aftermath of the First World War". As a result, this left Berlin's economy in shambles. Berlin is relevant to the novel because Lord Darlington sympathizes with Berlin due to their economic distress. Darlington holds a meeting in an attempt to get different world leaders on the same page about helping Germany because he saw the poverty-ridden city. 

"It must have been towards the end of 1920 that Lord Darlington made the first number of trips to Berlin himself, and I can remember the profound effect it had on him" ( Ishiguro 71). 

Works Cited

“The Aftermath of the First World War.” The Aftermath of the First World War – The Holocaust Explained: Designed for Schools, https://www.theholocaustexplained.org/the-nazi-rise-to-power/the-effects....