Pankow [ˈpaŋkoː] is the third borough of Berlin. In Berlin's 2001 administrative reform it was merged with the former boroughs of Prenzlauer Berg, Weißensee and Wilhelmsruh; the resulting borough retained the name Pankow. Between 1945 and 1960, the Majakowskiring street in the Niederschönhausen locality of Pankow was the home to many members of the East German government. Western writers therefore often referred to Pankow as shorthand for the East German regime.