In Berlin, a subterranean Nazi-era world
Under Berlin is a web of lakes, tunnels, canals and factory infrastructure that dates to World War II.
Berlin
鈥� A local, slice-of-life story from a Monitor correspondent.
Beneath Berlin鈥檚 streets lies a netherworld of underground lakes; canal systems with vaulted ceilings; eerie, Nazi-era murals; and the remains of a Messerschmitt factory. These tunnels, built by Hitler鈥檚 architect, Albert Speer, were intended to run down the north-south axis of Hitler鈥檚 new vision for the city, to be called 鈥淕ermania."
Today, a club called Berliner Unterwelten (Berlin Underworlds) is devoted to mapping and exploring Berlin鈥檚 subterranean topography. It leads expeditions into the World War II bunkers and tunnels. Dietmar Arnold, a freelance architect and a member of Berlin Underworlds, believes that the project has the potential to become an offbeat tourist attraction, like the catacombs of Paris, the sewers of Vienna, and the cisterns of Istanbul, Turkey.
鈥淏erlin doesn鈥檛 have many historical remnants from the Nazi period,鈥� he says. 鈥淥nly Tempelhof Airport and a couple of other buildings give one an insight into the Nazi mind.鈥�
According to Mr. Arnold, central Berlin is honeycombed with bunkers. The 贵眉丑谤别谤产耻苍办别谤, where Hitler spent his last days, was destroyed in 1996, but according to Arnold, some 600 other bunker complexes still exist in Berlin, though most are flooded and inaccessible.
鈥淢aybe people are ashamed of our history,鈥� says Arnold. 鈥淏ut we must reflect on our history and make sure that this kind of thing doesn鈥檛 come up again.鈥�