Have you ever been driving on highway A115 near the Messe and suddenly noticed a deserted building which resembles a grandstand? Well, in fact it actually is an old grandstand and the road you are driving on used to be the fastest race track in the world: the Automobil Verkehrs- und Übungsstraße, better known as the AVUS. Before World War II, racing cars speeded up to 400km/h on this 19km long track, consisting of two long, almost straights, and two hairpin turns at the ends. As a consequence it was also famous for its many severe and sometimes deadly accidents.

History of AVUS

Early 1900 the use of personal cars grew steadily amongst the wealthy population. As the city of Berlin was much too crowded for a fast and sporty ride, a race track outside the city was developed. Situated in the Grünewald forest along the railway track towards Potsdam. The construction started in 1913, but due to the lack of money after World War I, the first highway in Europe was not finished until 1921. Next to car and motorcycle races, the AVUS was open for private traffic as well. A single ride costed 10 Reichsmark, a three-months ticket 1000 Reichsmark.

In 1926 the first Grand Prix of Germany took place at the AVUS. Despite severe accidents, the races at the AVUS were a succes. Races became faster and faster. Nevertheless the Nazi regime wanted to show the world the fabulous German technique and demanded higher speeds. As the track had its limits for high-speed racing, a perilous 43-degrees-steep bank was build at the north curve. This was the steepest curve ever made and made AVUS the fastest race track in the world. During the consctruction of this curve the AVUS also got its wooden grandstand and the race control tower at the finish. In this period the 1936 Olympic games took place in Berlin and the track was used for cycling and the marathon.

Near the Schlachtensee, at the north side of the AVUS, a new steep banked South curve, comparable to the new North curve, was planned. For this curve a model (scale 1:100) was first built next to its predestined location in the Grünewald. You can still find this concrete mini track in the woods, partly destroyed and overgrown by moss. The real South curve was never finished. Although the forest had been cleared and piles of sand marked the outline of the curve, the construction work was interrupted by Word War II.

In 1937 the German racer Bernd Rosemeyer was the first to reach 400km/h on the AVUS track. The glory did not last long, as the German hero died after a crash during a world speed record attemp on a track near Frankfurt in 1938. Discussions about the dangerous AVUS track and the subsequent outbreak of World War II stopped racing at AVUS.

After WWII the AVUS track was restored and was shortened from 19 to 8km to reduce maintenance costs. Instead of the planned steep banked South curve, a simple turnaround was built near the Hüttenweg. The US allied forces found in the cleared grounds in the forest an ideal spot for a shooting range, the Keerans range. However, the flying bullets were not completely without danger for the sunbathing guests at the nearby Strandbad Wannsee. Ever since the cold war was ended, the US militaries left and nature has taken over. You can still see the open space in the wood and climb onto the piles of sands which marked the curve.

Successful racing took place at AVUS again since 1951. The track was located in West Berlin and therefore also used as a politcal symbol of freedom. The prestigious first race was won by a driver from the GDR. In 1959 the AVUS hosted its only Formule 1 world championship race, the German Grand Prix. The British Tony Brooks won in a Ferrari, but the victory was overshadowed by a deadly accident during the supporting programme.


When the wall was built the succes of AVUS declined. The fastest cars did not find their way to the isolated city anymore. In 1967 the steep perilous North curve was dismantled and the curve was made flat again.

In the 70s the AVUS was connected to the city’s highway network which turned it into a normal highway, including the long traffic jam behind the Dreilinden border crossing. In the opposite direction people entering Berlin via Dreilinden could finally speed up towards the Funkturm, after driving for a long time on the GDR highways with speeds limited to 100km/h.


During the 80s the amount of races at AVUS was highly limited because of environmental reasons and for normal traffic the maximum speed was limited to 100km/h, measures which were opposed to the idea of freedom. The track was made somewhat shorter again and some DTM and Formula 3 races took place. Michael Schumacher took part in three of them. Even with the flat curves, severe accidents happened and the races were still too dangerous.

Since 1998 racing on the AVUS has been history. The speed limit is 100km/h.

AVUS remnants

Today there are some spots that reminds of the glorious racing history at the AVUS.

The straight highway A115 is an important road to enter the city by car. The track between Spanische Allee and cityring A100 near the Messe used to be AVUS. Once a year you can drive on the AVUS by bike during the ADFC Fahrradsternfahrt (2015: June 14th).

Around the North curve you find the following:

• Wooden grandstand at the finish
• Flattened North curve
• The old race control tower with its remarkable Mercedes sign on its roof, nowadays Motel and Restaurant Avus.
• Motorcylists statue, Messedamm

By car easily reached via the highways A100 and A115
Public transport S5 Messe Süd, Messedamm, and via tunnel under the Messedamm towards the inner North curve and Motel Avus


Around the South curve you find the following:

• Cafe Restaurant Spinner Brücke, which is The meeting point for motorcyclists. There is an AVUS monument in the garden.
• Sandy banked South curve and the cleared forest of the former Keerans shooting range. Located along the Kronprinzessinenweg, at about 2km from the Spinner Brücke on the left.
• Model of the South curve, in the forest between the crossing Kronprinzessinenweg / Havelchaussee and the sandy banked South curve. From this crossing, walk about 150m further along the Kronprinzessinenweg towards a walking track on your left, turn left and walk about 50m along this walking track. The model track is on your left at about another 50m into the wood, near a remarkable standing old broken oak.

By car easily reached via highway A115, exit Spanische Allee.
Public transport S1 S7 Nikolassee

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Open Air Gas Lantern Museum

The Open Air Gas Lantern Museum was established in 1978 and shows 90 historic lanterns, both originals and replicas, from 25 German and 11 European cities. The lanterns originate from the era between 1826 and 1956. It is the largest collection in Europe of its sort. The museum is situated near S-Bahnhof Tiergarten between the Strasse des 17. Juni and the upper lock in the Landwehrkanal. Don’t forget the few at the other side of the Strasse des 17. Juni behind the Burger King. Especially in the evening or at night it’s worth a visit, as lights are switched on at dusk.
If you would like to see more gas lanterns “in the wild”, then you are in the right city.

Berlin gas street lighting

More than 200 years ago, in 1814 the first gas lanterns appeared in London. Since then, the use grew rapidly due to the industrialisation. In Berlin, gas lamps are used since 1826 and have been silent witnesses of the eventful history. Currently there are still about 44.000 of them in operation in Berlin. A unique number, which is more than half of all working gas lanterns in the world. The majority of the relatively modern lamps are found in the western part of the city, as in this isolated part of the divided city it was easier to use gas than to be dependent on electricity supplies.

While the 90 lanterns of the museum are protected by world monument funding, the 44.000 in the streets of Berlin are not. There are plans to gradually convert all of them into electric lamps, as gas lighting is supposed to be environmentally harmful and more expensive, which is highly debatable.

A good overview of the different types of Berlin gas lanterns and where it is worth seeing them, can be found on the website of Gaslicht-Kultur, which is an association to promote and protect the gas operated street lighting in Berlin. It also organises tours.

More information

Gaslaternen-Freilichtmuseum/Open Air Gas Lantern Museum
Strasse des 17. Juni/Klopstockstrasse
S5 S7 S75 N9 Tiergarten
Open anytime
Free admission
www.gaslicht-kultur.de

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The island West Berlin formed after World War 2 and vanished by the opening of the Berlin Wall in 1989. As part of the 25th anniversary of the fall of the wall, the Stadtmuseum Berlin brings the exhibition West:Berlin – An island in search of its mainland. The exhibition introduces the new spelling West:Berlin to express its independent political view to all visitors whatever their origin: West Berliner, people from Berlin the capital of the GDR, from the FRG, from the GDR, from foreign western countries, from countries belonging to the former Warsaw Pact, or elsewhere. Interestingly, the exhibition is held in the Ephraim Palais, a beautiful exhibition space located in the former eastern part of the city. I had a look.

Ephraim Palais

In 1762, the rich banker and entrepreneur Veitel Heine Ephraim ordered to reconstruct an old pharmacy into the original Ephraim Palais, which was bought by the city of Berlin in 1843. As part of renovation plans in 1935, the Ephraim Palais was demolished to make way for the new city hall district. As the facade of the building was kept in West Berlin, and the construction drawings were left in East Berlin, the palace could not be rebuilt until 1987. In that year the Nicolaiviertel was reconstructed as part of the 750th anniversary of Berlin. After some exchanges with West Berlin, the Ephraim Palais could be rebuilt on its original location in East Berlin. Nowadays it is used for exhibitions by the Berlin Stadtmuseum, such as the current exhibition about West Berlin.

History of West Berlin

In 1945, when World War II ended, Germany was divided into a Russian, American, British and French sector. The four allied forces were supposed to form the democratic republic Germany with capital Berlin. Therefore Berlin held a special status and was divided into four sectors as well. Due to conflicting political interests, the four allied forces did not form a joint administration in Berlin. Instead they each controlled their own sector. Just a few years after the war, Berlin was the center of a new conflict: the Cold War.

In 1949 the three western sectors officially formed the city of West Berlin, a democratic society based on free elections which was closely tied to the FRG. Surrounded by the GDR, a socialistic state, West Berlin became a political enclave. As the infrastructure was cut off by the GDR (except air traffic via Tempelhof), the city was supposed to be as self-supporting as possible. Daily Berlin life went on and people could still travel throughout the entire city, East and West, go to work or visit family.

After some time, the border between East and West Germany was closed. However, because it was still easy to travel from East to West Berlin, many unsatisfied GDR citizens fled their country to West Germany via West Berlin. Between 1949 and 1961 more than 1 million people left the GDR via this escape route, until suddenly, on 13 August 1961, the wall was built by the GDR to prevent its citizens to leave. The border of the cold war became nowhere so/as near as in Berlin, and surrounded by the wall the island West Berlin became an even more unique city.

After fall of the wall in 1989 and the reunification of Germany in 1990, West Berlin lost its special status. Together with East Berlin it formed the city of Berlin, the capital of Germany. The chapter West Berlin has been history for 25 years now.

Life in West Berlin

Being an island enclosed by the socialistic GDR, West Berlin was difficult to reach. Travelling through the GDR by car along the highway was possible, but especially during border controls the GDR was not very cooperative and put up obstacles as much as possible, such as car inspections and other long procedures to increase the waiting time. Berlin was reached via the airports Tempelhof and Tegel as well, and via the Zoologischer Garten railway station, which was the only station left in West Berlin for long distance trains.

Although difficult to reach, West Berlin was an open city. Many opportunities were taken to promote the importance of freedom, especially near the wall, where for example huge loudspeakers, directed to the east, were used to propagate the free word. Dignitary had an obligatory look at the wall during official visits to West Berlin. By living at the front of the cold war, the importance of freedom and democratic rights was clearly felt. A society without these rights was just at the other side of the wall. For this reason critisism was also not easily accepted; it was suggested that you could just leave to the other side if you had complaints.

West Berlin was ruled by the three allied forces, but remained closely tied to the FRG. The West German government strongly supported the city in order to let the small society survive. The economic situation was weak as many industries were gone after World War II. Aided by the friendly economic regulations such as tax advantages there were many jobs in new mechanical and electrical industry. Furthermore scientific institutes were doing well and the fashion industry flourished.

The special status of West Berlin resulted in special regulations as well, such as the exemption from military service, special driving regulations and continuous opening hours for bars. The three allied powers each brought their own cultural values, such as art, music, literature, architecture and fairs. The booming art scene attracted many artists and the alternative scene was large.

Altogether the continuously changing population in West Berlin formed an international, creative and diverse city on a small island.

The exhibition clarifies the history of West Berlin from a political, economic, social and cultural viewpoint. It displays many photos, posters, films and attributes of the West Berlin daily life as well as of many special events.

West:Berlin – An island in search of its mainland

west.berlin
Ephraim Palais Poststrasse 16 10178 Berlin-Mitte
U2 Klosterstrasse S5 S7 S75 Alexanderplatz
Until 28 June 2015
Open Tue Thu Fri Sat Sun 10-18 Wed 12-20
Entrance 7 Euro/5 Euro, booklet included
Combiticket West:Berlin and Märkisches Museum 9 Euro/6 Euro
Under 18 free admission
First wednesday of the month free admission

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History of the Trabant

During the 50s, the family car slowly turned from a luxury item into an everyday product. The Volkswagen Beetle, which was developed in the mid 40s, was produced in West Germany and therefore not available for the population of East Germany. It was 1954 when the East-German authoroties ordered the development of a family car that should not cost more than 4000 Mark. It was called Trabant, which means satellite: a buddy that’s always there to guide you.

In 1955 the first prototype P70 was developed and since 1957 the Trabant P50 was in production, followed by the P60 in 1962 and P601 in 1964. The Trabant, or “Trabi”, was produced by the VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke in Zwickau untill 1991. More than 3 million cars have been built and almost 80% of the population owned one, sometimes after having been on the waiting list for several years. The “racing cardboard” was made of thermosetting plastic, and filled with a two-stroke engine it could reach 26 horsepower.


The Trabant was competitive to other family cars during the 50s and 60s. Although it was developed further, the SED did not allow modernisations, so that the Trabant fundamentally never really changed and kept the same old-fashioned look for decades.

The car became world famous in 1989, by filling street scenes during the many uprisings, and after the fall of the wall, when the Trabis guided the East German citizens into the western world.

After the reunification of Germany, the end of the Trabant was near. East Germans preferred the wealth of West German alternatives, which had better quality and were relatively more environmental-friendly. West Germans were not interested in the minor quality of the car. The production of Trabants discontinued in 1991.

Nowadays the Trabant has turned into a sympathic cult car and a few are still left. Unfortunately the recent environmental regulations in many German cities keep the cars from the street. Luckily there are exceptions: in Berlin, you can go on a Trabi Safari during various tours through the city in an old Trabant.

Trabi Museum

In 2013 the Trabi Museum opened its doors and is dedicated to the Volkswagen of the GDR and its history. Apart from the standard versions the museum exhibits several extraordinary Trabants, like a cabriolet, a racing Trabant, a Trabi Ferrari (or Ferrabi), a tank Trabant, and -my favourite- a camping Trabi with a tent on the roof. Styled with original GDR toys and other products from the 70s and 80s a visit to the Trabi Museum results in a real Ostalgic experience.

More information

www.trabi-museum.de
Zimmerstrasse 14-15 10969 Berlin-Kreuzberg
U6 Kochstrasse/Checkpoint Charlie
Open daily 10am – 6pm
Entrance fee 5 euro, under 12 free admission
www.trabi-safari.de

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When the Berlin Wall was brought down on November 9th 1989, the most iconic part of the iron curtain suddenly opened. An event in the recent history that captivated people around the world. How did that happen? It was probably not David Hasselhoff’s hit single Looking for freedom that convinced the East German politicians to open the wall. Here a short overview of some of the occurrences.

40th anniversary German Democratic Republic

The German Democratic Republic (GDR) was established in 1949 and would celebrate its 40th anniversary in October 1989. A big opportunity for the republic to show the world its harmony and prosperity. In fact, the economic situation in East Germany was bad. Industries were old, shops were empty and without the help of the Soviets its future was hopeless.

Political changes in the surrounding Warsawpact countries such as Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia were not carried out by the East German SED regime. Together with the ongoing suppression by this dictatorial regime, it made more and more people felt hopeless and wanted to leave the state. The only thing that stopped them was a combination of concrete, barbed wires, border guards and the chance of being shot or at least convicted for years of imprisonment for high treason.

West German embassy in Prague

Many people tried to flee to the West via the Czechoslovakian and Hungarian border, these were easier to cross than the border with West Germany and these countries already opened their borders with western countries.

Since the summer of 1989 many people fled into the garden of the West German embassy in Prague, but the Czechoslovakian authorities did not allow their passage to West Germany without the permission of East Germany. Until October 10.000 people had accumulated in the embassy, and something had to be done. As the 40th anniversary of the GDR was approaching, the East German authorities gave in and the refugees were allowed to leave. Again, this made many East Germans to step into their Trabant and drive to Prague. In the days following more then 20.000 GDR citizens traveled via Czechoslovakia into West Germany.

Demonstrations

Meanwhile in East Germany more and more people stood up against the dictatorial regime. They demanded free elections and freedom to travel.
For about 10 years the Nikolai Church in Leipzig was the center of opposition against the GDR regime and organised peaceful gatherings. In 1989 it played a central role in organising weakly demonstrations, which became larger and larger.
The demonstrations overshadowed the 40th anniversary celebrations of th GDR on October 7th. While people were expected to watch the marches and sing about building their country for a better future, a few thousand people demonstrated. Special guest Soviet president Gorbachev, who understood that changes were necessary, did not interfere. A few days later another large demonstration in Leipzig was not stopped by the authorities and the Soviet troops did not interfere as well.
The regime had a wake-up call and understood that changes were necessary for the GDR to survive. Honecker was replaced by the new leader Egon Krenz, but the population did not believe it anymore. Demonstrations became larger than ever before. On November 8th more than 500.000 Berliners demonstrated at the Alexanderplatz.

New travel regulations

At 9 November in the early evening, SED politician Günter Schabowski announces new travel regulations at a press conference attended by the international press, live on television. On a question when these regulations would apply, Günter Schabowski speaks the famous words “sofort und unverzüglich” (immediately and without delay). He was confused. The new travel regulations should officially apply the next day and still visa would be reguired.

Bornholmer Strasse

At 20:00 just after the remarkable announcement, the first East Berliners gathered at the border crossing Bornholmer Strasse in order to cross the border and never come back. Or just to have a curious look into the free western part of the city. Now that they officially were allowed to travel, as heard on television.
As the border guards did not get any official orders, other than the announcement by Schabowski they saw live on television, they refused to let the citizens pass and tried to handle the situation.
In between the crowd became larger and larger. To keep the pressure down a few citizens were allowed to cross the border by getting a stamp on their passport photographs. This meant that they were expatriated would never to be able to get back into the GDR again. But the angry crowd did not stop yelling.

Fall of the Wall

It was just after 23:00 when East German border guard Harald Jäger realised that the situation could not be stopped and he ordered to open the gate. Without official permission. What had been unthinkable for many years did happen: The wall was open. That night more than 20.000 East Berliners crossed the border at Borhnolmer Strasse, excited, amazed, speechless, in tears, and celebrating, welcomed by West Berliners who also could not believe what just happened. The same emotional scenery occured at all other Berlin border crossings. From that moment Berlin was reunited and had a unique party to celebrate. At Brandenburger gate Berliners climbed on the Wall, which from that moment on was nothing more than just a piece of concrete instead of the division of a city for 28 years. Border guards could just watch.
The next day, people in almost every East German village applied for a travel visum. To travel into a new world, and into a new, unknown, and sometimes hard, future.

A peaceful revolution. Soviet leader Gorbachev could have sent some tanks to suppress the riots but he did not. Sadly, many people gave their lives during the 28 years before when they tried to flee just to be free.

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And at November 9th 1989 the wall was torn down, an impressive and amazing event in recent world history. This sunday it will be 25 years since the the peaceful revolution of East German citizens finally ended in the opening of the Berlin Wall, which was the beginning of the end of the cold war and led to the reunification of Germany.

This 25th anniversary has been celebrated extensively during the past few months and will have its big final during the weekend of 7-9 November. The event will be attended by international guests such as the former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev.

Lichtgrenze

The celebrations start Friday at 17:00 with the opening of the light installation Lichtgrenze along the track of the inner Berlin wall. Along a 15 kilometer course, starting at the Bornholmer Strasse, through the city towards the Oberbaumbrücke, 8000 white illuminating Helium balloons will outline the former inner Berlin wall. This project by the Berlin artists Christopher and Marc Bauder enables visitors to imagine and feel the existence of the wall in a symbolic way. The illuminated balloons bring hope and happiness, and it reminds of the burning candles, which became symbol of the many peaceful demonstrations which finally led to the fall of the wall.

At points along the light installation, the exhibition 100 wall stories 100 times Berlin can be viewed, which tells 100 personal stories of people from the divided city.

On sunday at 19:00 the fall of the wall is celebrated when all the balloons will be released and sent into the sky.

The weekend is closed with the Mut zur Freiheit party at the Brandenburger Gate with Udo Lindenberg, Clueso, Peter Gabriel, Paul Kalkbrenner, and others.

Main Programme 7-9 November

• Lichtgrenze Fri 17:00 – Sun 19:00
• Wall Stories Fri 17:00 – Sun 24:00
• Guided Tours Fri hourly 18-20, Sat hourly 12-20, Sun hourly 12-16. Starting from the Mauerpark, Checkpoint Charlie and East Side Gallery.
• Balloon Release Sunday at 19:00
• Party Brandenburger Gate at Sunday, programme can be found here

An overview of all the photo exhibitions, readings, discussions, walking tours, etcetera, can be found at www.fallofthewall25.com.

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Town Wall

Berlin is famous for its wall, which was built around West Berlin in 1961 to stop the unsatisfied citizens from fleeing out of the GDR. It was torn down 25 years ago, an historic event which will be celebrated and commemorated intensely in the coming months. However, this was not the only wall in the history of Berlin.
The first Berlin wall was actually built in the 13th century. The city originated from the two settlements: Berlin, which was roughly the area between the Spree, the Littenstrasse at the east side and the Rochstrasse at north side, and Cölln, which was the southern part of the Museum Island. One single town wall surrounded both parts, in order to protect its citizens, instead of keeping them inside. The wall remnants which can be found in the Waisenstrasse date from the 14th century, when the original wall had been rebuilt. Because of the expansion of Berlin and Cölln, the original wall lost its function and most of it was torn down and re-used as building material. The small sections of this wall in the Waisenstrasse survived because they were incoporated into houses which were built against it. Since 1948 these remains have a monumental status.

Zur letzten Instanz

One of the few remaining houses that adjoined the old town wall, is used by the oldest restaurant in Berlin. Restaurant Zur letzten Instanz was established in 1621 and has been located at the same spot for almost 400 years, although the current housing was rebuild in 1963. It is said that Napoleon dined here during one of his European trips. I wonder what the Frenchman thought of the traditional Berlin cuisine. It is a cosy restaurant, still serving traditional Berlin food, and in summer you can eat or have a drink on the quiet and pleasant terrace.

Franziskaner Klosterkirche

When you walk a little bit further along the Waisenstrasse you end up at the ruins of the Franciscan Friary Church. The early-Gothic church and the friary were built in 1250 just after the settlement of Berlin in 1237.
After the Reformation, when the friary was closed, the building was used for several other purposes such as a laboratory. Also, the first printing office of Berlin was located here. From the 16th until the 19th century it housed a famous grammar school at which, among others, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Otto von Bismarck and Erich Rathenau graduated. The complex survived for a long period, until it was bombed during the Battle of Berlin at the end of the 2nd world war. The friary was demolished and turned into a public garden, the ruins of the church were kept and are gradually being reconstructed. Today, the ruin is used as an exhibition space for sculptures and cultural events.

More information

U2 Klosterstrasse U6 S5 S7 S75 Janowitzbrücke
Zur letzten Instanz, Waisenstrasse 14-16, Berlin-Mitte
www.zurletzteninstanz.com
Franziskaner Klosterkirche, Klosterstrasse 73A, Berlin-Mitte
www.klosterruine-berlin.de

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Germania

One of Hitler’s many bizarre ideas was to transform Berlin into “World capital Germania”. It is 1937 when Hitler ordered his architect Albert Speer to redesign the center of Berlin to make it more representative for its new status.

Speer designed a 7km long North-South axis, starting with a station at the north side in Wedding, going southward via a Great Hall (measuring 300m in all dimensions, planned between the current main station and the Reichstag), finally ending at a huge station south of the center, which was planned at the current Südkreuz station. Along the 120 meter broad boulevard important government buildings were planned and all major companies from the Third Reich should get their main offices here. To honour all German soldiers who fought and died during the 1st and 2nd World war a huge Triumphal Arch was designed near the southern station, which should be 120 meter wide, 110 meter deep, and 100 meter high. As we’re talking about the World capital here this was of course many times larger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Schwerbelastungskörper

There was only one problem: the weak sandy soil of Berlin. It was not clear if such large and heavy buildings would sink into the ground or not. In order to test the load bearing capacity of the ground a 12650 ton heavy concrete body was developed at the site of the Triumphal Arch: the Schwerbelastungskörper. With a diameter of 20 meter, a height of 12 meter and a depth of 18 meter into the ground, it exerts a pressure of 126 ton per square meter, which was more than the Great Hall or Triumphal Arch. When the body sank no more than 2cm into the ground, the soil would pass the test. It was build in 1941, most probably by prisoners of war.


In order to have a nice view on the Great Hall from the entire north-south axis, it was planned that the Triumphal Arch had to be placed 12 meter higher than the existing ground level. This meant roughly that many houses in the surrounding area had to be torn down, the inhabitants of these houses had to move into the houses formerly inhabited by Jewish people who were deported, the total area had to be elevated by 12 meter and that the entire Schwerbelastungskörper would disappear into the ground as well. The whole project had to be finished in 1954 on Hitler’s 65th birthday.

Because of the end of the war the plans for Germania have never been put into practice. Many years after the war was over it was not possible to remove the heavy body, as houses were to near to have it blown up. Apart from being used for some construction test measurements, it has been standing around for more than 70 years being useless.

Today the Schwerbelastungskörper has a monumental status, you can visit it and try to imagine the outrageous design of Germania. And from the 12m high platform next to the body you have a wonderful view over Berlin. Highly recommended!

More information

www.schwerbelastungskoerper.de
General-Pape-Strasse/Loewenhardtdamm
Bus 104 Kolonnenstrasse, S1 Julius-Leber-Brücke
Open April-October Tue Wed 14-18 Thur 10-18 Sun 13-18
Free entrance
Guided tours by the Berliner Unterwelten e.V. every Sunday at 12, 6 Euro (recommended)
www.berliner-unterwelten.de

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