Anhalter Bahnhof: Berlin's Lost Gateway to the South

The Rise of a Grand Station

Originally opened in 1841, Anhalter Bahnhof became an icon of Berlin with the inauguration of its new, grand structure on June 15, 1880. Designed by architect Franz Heinrich Schwechten in a Neo-Renaissance style, the station was unveiled by Kaiser Wilhelm I. Its main platform hall was an architectural marvel, measuring 170 meters long, 62 meters wide, and 34 meters high, making it the largest railway station in Germany and, at the time, on Continental Europe.

Known as Berlin's 'Gateway to the South,' the station was a bustling hub connecting the capital to cities like Leipzig, Munich, Vienna, Rome, and Athens. By the 1930s, it handled around 44,000 passengers daily, with trains departing every few minutes from its six platforms. A unique feature was a 100-meter underground tunnel, built between 1927 and 1928, connecting the station directly to the Hotel Excelsior, then the largest hotel in Europe.

A Dark Chapter

During World War II, Anhalter Bahnhof's history took a dark turn. Between 1941 and 1945, the Nazi regime used it as one of three main stations for the systematic deportation of Berlin's Jewish citizens. Approximately 9,600 Jews were forced onto 116 trains departing from this station, primarily destined for the Theresienstadt ghetto in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. To avoid arousing suspicion, these deportations were often carried out using regular passenger coaches.

Destruction and Division

The station suffered catastrophic damage during Allied bombing raids, particularly on November 23, 1943, and again in February 1945. Though partially operational after the war, its fate was sealed by Cold War politics. With the division of Berlin, its tracks leading into what became East Germany were severed. In 1952, the GDR-owned Deutsche Reichsbahn rerouted all traffic to Ostbahnhof in the Soviet sector, rendering Anhalter Bahnhof obsolete.

Despite public outcry, demolition of the heavily damaged main building began on August 25, 1960. The work was largely completed within two days, leaving only a small, poignant fragment of its grand facade standing.

The Site Today and Future

Today, the preserved section of the station's facade serves as a powerful World War II memorial, a stark reminder of the city's turbulent past. Beneath the former station grounds, the 'Anhalter Bahnhof' S-Bahn station, which opened in 1939, remains fully operational, serving several lines.

The vast area where the tracks once lay has been transformed into a sports field. The distinctive, tent-like Tempodrom concert venue and the Liquodrom spa now occupy parts of the former station grounds. A memorial display board near the ruin commemorates the Jewish citizens deported from the site. Looking ahead, a new Exilmuseum (Exile Museum) is scheduled to open in 2026 next to the facade, dedicated to the theme of exile and remembrance.