Chronicles – The Year 2001 Our activities since 1997

Waltraud Süßmilch, Author of “No time for dolls – Contemporary History seen from another perspective”, and Gerald Ramm, Author of “May God be with us – War Time Memories from Brandenburg”, present their books on the occasion of a reading organized by Berlin Underworlds, within the facilities of Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker.

From this day on, you may acquire vouchers for our regular tours on Saturdays. This may be an ideal gift, and not just at Christmas times! For more details, please take a look at “Guided tours”.

Special Excursion for members to the Berlin Police Research Institute (PTU) in Schulzendorf, Berlin-Reinickendorf.

Opening and Exploration of the former Air Raid Shelter beneath Eckernförder Platz, Berlin-Wedding.

Opening and Exploration of the “Eisack Tunnel” in Berlin-Schöneberg, a section of U 4 Subway Line, which was abandoned in 1971.

Start of construction-work at the ruins of the Flak Tower in Humboldthain Park. Special arrangements have been made by the Association with the Municipal Council of Berlin-Wedding. A new entrance flap has been installed. The interior of the Flak Tower will be prepared for guided tours open to the public.

Publication of an interactive CD-Rom, “Berlin Underground – a time travel beneath Potsdamer Platz”, by Dietmar Arnold in cooperation with “ecuinteractive”, a company directed by Eku Wand (Brunswick/ Berlin).

“Day of the Open Monument” – at Fichtestraße Air Raid Shelter, Berlin-Kreuzberg. Due to the enormous inquiry from the public, Berlin Underworlds open this Gasometer building the second time within two years for guided tours. Approximately 1.200 visitors use this opportunity to visit the interior of that significant Berlin historic landmark.

Second “Long Night in the Bunker”. Approximately 600 visitors join us in the facilities within Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker.

First Official Presentation of the interactive CD-Rom “Berlin Underground – A Time Travel beneath Potsdamer Platz” within the facilities of Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker.

Opening and exploration of the cable channel connecting the former Gun Tower and the Control Tower in Humboldthain Park.

A special visit for members to the bastions and casemates at The Citadel, Berlin-Spandau.

Special Guided Tours for members into the vaults of the former Schultheiss Brewery's Production Plant in Methfesselstraße, Berlin-Kreuzberg.

A ZDF (German Television) Special “Berlin Underworlds – Nazi Bunkers and Robber Caves” paints the association's and some of its members' portrait.

A special tour for members leads into the abyss of the “SAKA – Public Supply Tunnel” in Berlin-Friedrichshain.

The English pages of our website www.berliner-unterwelten.de are online. Thus, the association gives access to many valuable Underground information, especially to non-German speaking visitors.

Second special visit for members to “Seewerk Falkenhagen”, an extended Air Raid Shelter complex east of Berlin. During the war, the Nazis wanted to produce some poison gas here, but the production was never really started, for what reasons whatsoever. After the war, the area was used by the Soviet Armed Forces in Germany as a Control Centre.

First night of the exhibition “The Death” organised by M°A°I°S, an international group of artists. More than 90 artists from different countries in Europe and elsewhere present their works within the facilities of Blochplatz Civil Shelter. This exhibition stands under the auspices of the Department of Cultural Affaires at the Municipal Council, Berlin-Wedding.

Introduction of a Guestbook to our website www.berliner-unterwelten.de. Please feel free to put your comments down there.

A special tour for members to the BASA Air Raid Shelter at Hallesches Ufer, Berlin-Schöneberg. Two of its three floors are situated underground. During the war a communication centre of German Railways was established here. Later, the bunker was used as an emergency storage depot during the times of the Cold War. Today, the shelter has no official function.

Beginning of a basic redesign of our website www.berliner-unterwelten.de.

Presentation of the non-fiction book “Beneath Potsdamer Platz – A time travel through dark worlds” by Dietmar Arnold within the facilities of Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker. A cooperation with Ch. Links Publishing House.

“Bach on the roofs, in the cellars” – The Cello Suites by Johann Sebastian Bach, performed by Maria Magdalena Wiesmaier within the facilities of Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker, on top of a Tower block at Weberwiese (close to Frankfurter Allee), in an abandoned tunnel section at U 5 Subway Line Station Alexanderplatz, within the facilites of one othe the upper floors in the “House of Teachers” at Alexanderplatz, in the U 3 Subway Line Ghost station at Potsdamer Platz, and on top of the roof of the German Centre for Architecture in Köpenicker Straße, Berlin-Friedrichshain.

A special “Ash Wednesday” tour for members to the former Soviet Nuclear Weapons Depots in Stolzenhain, Elbe-Elster County in the South of Brandenburg.

A special visit for members to the Tram Depots in Blankenfelder Straße and an inspection to more than 40 historic tramcars of the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG).

A special visit for members to U 8 Subway Line Ghost Station Dresdener Straße and the subterranean air raid shelter near by.

Start of the breakthrough construction-work to the lowest floor within the facilities of Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker. Berlin Underworlds' Association rents another four rooms with a total of 150 square metres from Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) and intends to establish its archives and its museum depot down there. A tipper used in the post-war years to transport all that rubbish and debris from the streets of Berlin has been acquired. Some interesting findings in the cellars of the former “Lutter & Wegner restaurant” at Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin-Mitte, were added to the Museum Subterranum within the facilities of Gesundbrunnen Subway Bunker on a permanent loan from Berlin's “Museum of Primeval and Early History”.

A special New Year's (or “Hangover”) Tour for members to Fort Hahneberg, a fortification situated in Staaken, Berlin-Spandau. It was built from 1882 to 1886. These walls are supervised by “Fort Hahneberg” – Registered Society.