Karstadt Berlin Hermannplatz will be rebuild

[Maurice Laarman]

In Berlin the Karstadt department store, which was blown up by the SS in the battle of Berlin in 1945, will be rebuild. It will not be a 100% similar building, but will look very much as the impressive building which once stood there.

In my opinion a very nice and interesting project! But, as with every project in Germany, there are protesters. Let's hope it will be realized!

More details here:
https://nichtohneeuch.berlin/en/

Photos through Wikimedia Commons.

[Mannheim]

I did read somewhere that the first Soviet shells to land in Berlin killed a number of shoppers lined up outside this building but I can't remember where. Anyone know the source (and is it true)?

[Tamari]

Hello to all of you,

I read this story in the German edition of Anthony Beevors book "Berlin 1945 - das Ende", page 310.

Beevor claimed in hisbook that on the 21st of April 1945 the first Russian artillery shells hit a column of civilians who had waited in front of the building to go in.

Another story in these days was that the SS-troops (I think SS-PzGren Div NORDLAND) had allowed that the civilians to take everything before the Karstadt building will be busted by them and that many looters - who stayed until the last moment in the Karstadt building - had been killed by the explosion of the SS-engineers. Beevor corrected these rumours and told that NORDLAND had never thought to bust the building because its twin towers were excellent observation points.

I'm no expert on the fight in Berlin so I only share the content of Beevor's book witout double-checking if his claims are correct.

Best regards

Robert

[GregSingh]

Obviously that project started before COVID-19. Is it still going ahead?

[Helmut0815]

The owner of the building, the SIGNA Group, wants to continue the project, which is supported by the mayor of Berlin. However, there is some political resistance from politicians of the Green party.[1] The new building is intented to be an office building, only a small part will become shops and department stores.

[1] https://taz.de/Berliner-Senat-einigt-si ... /!5700215/


regards


Helmut

[Mannheim]

Thanks, Tamari! I've read the Beevor book so that's probably where I found it. Cheers!

[ostland]

Will they be flying the same flag on top?

[GregSingh]

Flags were there during the Olympics...

Nice aerial photo, winter? I see snow everywhere...