Chronicles – The Year 1998 Our activities since 1997

Berlin Underworlds apply to confer the status of a “historic landmark” to Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker. This application is sent to the Berlin Office for the Preservation of Historic Buildings and Monuments (Landesdenkmalamt).

A special inspection for members of the vaults of the former National Monument in Honour of Emperor Wilhelm I. at the Schloßfreiheit Lane, Berlin-Mitte. There is also a visit to the former “Linden tram tunnel” beneath the boulevard “Unter den Linden” included.

Presentation of the illustrated book: “Bunker Worlds – Air Raid Shelters in Northern Germany”, written by the historian Michael Foedrowitz, within the facilities of Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker.

Presentation of the non-fiction book: “A lost Liberty – In Front of Berlin City Castle”, written by Dietmar and Ingmar Arnold, within the facilities of Ribbeck House, the Centre of Berlin Studies, in Breite Straße, Berlin-Mitte. This book deals with the history of a forgotten lane in the direct vicinity of the destroyed Berlin City Castle, and especially with the vaults beneath the former National Monument in Honour of Emperor Wilhelm I. Those vaults were rediscovered by members of the association in 1992.

“Blockhaus” – an exhibition compiled by Peter Mackertich, in cooperation with the Imperial War Museum, London. The British Architectural Photographer presents within the facilities of Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker some of his most spectacular photographs concerning the German Air Raid Protection Installations on the Atlantic Shores. Due to the intensive coverage of various Regional and National Broadcasting Stations, a total amount of 1850 visitors come to see this remarkable exhibition which is also on display in Breslau (Wroclaw), Poland, later this year.

“The Underground in Feature Films” – A series of movies shown to the public at the Cinema Club of the Humboldt University. The movies play mostly beneath the surface of the Earth, or they focus on “Underground and Underworlds”.

A Polish Local newspaper, “Trybuna Opolska” (The Oppeln Tribune, Upper Silesia, Poland), and the Polish Regional Television (Studio Kattowice) present a positive coverage of some association's members' activities at Ottmachau (Otmuchów) Castle, a former domain of the Humboldt Family. A special working group has been established to explore the mysteries of the castle's fountain for some months or so, mostly on weekends only. As a side effect, the fountain has been cleaned off from rubbish also. Result of this expedition: there is water again in the fountain, but no secret escape tunnels have been found so far.

The exhibition “Underground ... Souterrain ... Untergrund” in cooperation with the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) and the Municipal Council, Berlin-Wedding, is on display at Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker. Petra Dahmen, the artist, reflects in her works the human conditions in modern conurbations. Dahmen's spatial installations, her abstract and realistic paintings can be read as a mirror or a contrast to life in a contemporary metropolis. Approximately 1700 visitors want to make this experience.

Second special visit for members to the subterranean facilities of the former Pfefferberg Brewery in Schönhauser Allee, Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg.

“Day of the open monument”. Berlin Underworlds offer – a premiere to the public – guided tours of the Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker and of the Blochplatz Civil Shelter. This action is supported by the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) and the Municipal Council of Berlin-Wedding. Exact 1738 visitors on both days.

Special night tours of the Berlin Subway Network, open to the public and presented by Dietmar Arnold. A cooperation with the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG).

First special inspection for members of the “SAKA – Public Supply Tunnel” in Berlin-Marzahn.

The “New York Times” covers the association and its activities. On June 10th, an article is published in the German Weekly “Die Zeit”; on August 26th, another report titled: “A Lobby of the Underground” appears in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”.

A special tour for members of the subterranean shelters and installations at the State Security's Headquarters of the former GDR in Normannenstraße, Berlin-Lichtenberg.

Press Release of Berlin Underworlds' Association. Subject: The intended closure of the old “Linden tramway tunnel” (beneath the boulevard Unter den Linden), Berlin-Mitte. Furthermore, the reader finds an invitation to a guided tour of this historic landmark, and afterwards, to a public panel discussion about its fate. Berlin Underworlds want to use the Linden Tunnel furthermore for diverse cultural purposes.

A special visit for members to the extended filtering vaults at the Friedrichshagen Water Works, Berlin-Köpenick, on the shore of “Müggelsee”, Berlin's largest lake. A short excursion to the Water Works Museum on the same site has been included into the programme.

A Public meeting in “Die Pumpe”, an Alternative Cultural Youth Centre and a former Pumping Hall of Berlin Water Works Company, in Lützowstraße, Berlin-Tiergarten. Many new members join Berlin Underworlds on this occasion.

First Official Letter to the Members is published. This is a forerunner of the Official Quarterly “Schattenwelt” (“Shadow Worlds”), appearing for the first time in March 2000. Up to now, 40 members have joined Berlin Underworlds.

A Public Panel Discussion organized by Berlin Underworlds' Association within the facilities of the Berlin Academy of Arts, Berlin-Tiergarten. The debate's subject: How to deal with the Goebbels Bunker and other hidden relics of the Old and New Reich Chancellery? A big resonance has been generated in the mass media. Prof. Helmut Engel, Director of the Berlin Office of the Preservation of Historic Buildings and Monuments, describes some members of the association as “bunker kissers and concrete romantics”. A statement which is criticized sharply by most of Berlin's daily newspapers.

A special tour for members of the vaults beneath the closed Schultheiss Brewery's Production Plant in Methfesselstraße, Berlin-Kreuzberg.

The association signs officially a tenancy agreement with the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) to use the facilities of Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker for cultural purposes. Taking up of extensive repair works within that underground installation.

Press Release of Berlin Underworlds' Association: “Berlin's Government disposes of the relics from the Nazi Period, but the public is completely excluded from this development.” The association demands a broad discussion about the historical value of bunkers, air raid shelters and other installations, and it wants an insight into the expertises or surveys of air raid precaution structures in the City. The “Tagesspiegel” comments: “Harsh critics of Berlin's Office of the Preservation of Historic Buildings and Monuments!” Nevertheless, this office eventually starts to document the latest findings in the soil of the 'Ministergärten' grounds.

First Appearance of the Berlin Underworld's Association in public, within the facilities of Pallas Air Raid Shelter, Berlin-Schöneberg. The topic of the debate: “Insights into subterranean Berlin”. The guided tours following this discussions are visited by ca. 700 people.

First Scientific Performance of the association results in a panel discussion about “The Underworld Myths – Perspectives for an Exhibition”. This meeting has been taken place at Blochplatz Civil Shelter.

Special excursion for members to the Underground Shelter “Kurfürst” (“Elector”) at the former Supreme Command Headquarters of the German Air Force. These bunkers are situated at the Henning von Treskow Barracks, Potsdam-Wildpark.