| World heritage Tempelhof Airport | printer-friendly (PDF) |
In the current discussion around the Tempelhof airport proponents and opponents apart from the jurisdictional arguments talk about questions such as economy, security or the actual need.
Apart from these arguments however there is one that is at least just as important, and to many citizens of Berlin it is obviously more meaningful, than to politians: This argument is called "history" or "historical monument", critics call it "backwardedness" or "nostalgia".
The cultural achievement - First airport of the world
In 1923 the Tempelhof airport was the first one in the world,
that took up business. Before that, airfields at that time were rather experimental
fields for the still very young aviation industry.
In Tempelhof pilots were not experimental guinea-pigs but conducted the first
commercial flights. Also German Luft Hansa A.G. began their flying operations here
in 1926.
Third biggest building of the world
It is well-known that in the nazi-era architecture was especially
much bigger than usual. In Germany nowadays we speak of the so called "Gigantomania".
With 284,000 square meters of floor area the building was the largest in the world at
the time (in 1934), and today still holds place 3.
The prognosises for passenger developments nevertheless were planned up already to
the year 2000. At that time this was rather boldly planned, but because of this
there was a good cause for building plenty of hangars and facility capacities.
Structurally trailblazing
The today's greater building was planned by Ernst Sagebiel, even if the first facility was built before already. At that time people hardly had any experiences with the commercial aviation. Sagebiel also planned the airports of Stuttgart, Munich`s Muenchen-Riem and Vienna, but none of it is (in its original shape) in good condition compared to Tempelhof.
Many architectural decisions from at that time were nevertheless
trailblazing for airports in all of the world. Star architect Sir Norman Foster made
the point: Tempelhof is the "Mother of all Airports".
The partitioning of the building into several functional sections (approach, handling
of baggage, departure- and landing section, a separate freight- and air mail range)
is what we are used to see on all the airports today. We also expect to find hotels
and whole shopping malls in an airport, all of this was built in Tempelhof for the
first time ever.
One might ask what those remarkable stair towers at the building and the very unusual
roof structure were meant to, but the idea to use the airport roof as grandstand for
large meetings and marching-ups was never generally accepted. In order to offer
entrance for 100.000 spectators, stairs were built alongside the building and 40
meters of steel girders loom out of the roof.
Enthusiasm for technique in the "Golden Twenties"
It almost fell into oblivion that Berlin is one of the first centers of aviation history. Otto Lilienthal and many other aircraft manufacturers were working here. In this technique-euphoria in the 20īs of the last century the decision was made to build in Tempelhof an airport in the city.
Representation object of the national socialism
Although many people rather dislike to be reminded of this time, the Tempelhof Airport building clearly shows the influence of the National Socialism. With the high halls lined with shelly limestone, the ornamentations and its equipment as a marching-up arena it clearly stands for the hybris at that time. But also we have to question us, how easily we can be impressed from this symbolism.
Place of refuge during the Second World War, place of arms industry and forced labour
Although the building was never completed at that time due to the
war, it was nevertheless a place of refuge for many thousands of citizens during the
Second World War.
The shelters and catacombs in its cellars and in addition, the autonomous water and
power supply offered safe protection for the people. At the same time this was very
useful also for the arms industry. We also know that at the end of war forced laborers
in the railway tunnel of the airport were mounting planes, which could roll directly
to deployment.
Center of the air lift
In the year 1948 General Lucius D Clay and mayor Ernst Reuter made
the courageous decision to supply Berlin by airlift, in order to break the Soviet
blockade. European history would probably have looked much different, if the city of
Berlin would have fallen. The airlift was the cornerstone for the good relationship
of Germans and Americans for over 40 years and the beginning of a liberal Germany.
The Tempelhof Airport was logistic center of this airlift, which demanded large
logistical achievements and also numerous victims of the Western Allies.
Scene of the cold war
When West Berlin in the cold war was an outpost of the west, the airport played a entral role. Here was the American information center for monitoring air and radio traffic of Eastern Europe.
Result
Tempelhof Airport is and always will be something special. By its
special status for many decades it has been preserved in a condition, which nowhere
else in the world can be found.
The airport as a whole is listed as a protected historic monument today already.
To apply to UNESCO for the recognition of Tempelhof Airport as a world heritage
is a task for the city of Berlin, the German Federal Government and for all citizens
of Berlin.
Click here, if you want to support the apply with your on-line signature. (German)
References:
- UNESCO world inheritance convention of 1972:
http://whc.unesco.org/en - Travel guide at Tempelhof airport:
http://www.vivev.de/viv_international.html