Berlin, Sommer 1945

Photo: US NARA.

In this original colour footage we can see the bombed out and ruined U-Bhf Wittenbergplatz’s entrance hall and its original yellow mustard interior walls (built in 1912), following the end of the war and the reactivation of part of the underground train service in the city.

This soundless footage was recorded on July 9, 1945, by members of the AAF’s 4th Combat Camera Squadron led by Capt. William H. Clothier, which following their motion picture coverage of the war across northwestern Europe had been sent to the German capital that summer to capture the achievements of the air bombardment campaign against Hitler.

Photo: US NARA.

As we have seen before on previous posts (read here the 1945 and postwar history) the iconic Wittenbergplatz in Berlin-Schöneberg district and her underground station cross-shaped entrance building were totally wiped out during the 1939-45 war by Allied bombs and the final street-fighting to defeat Hitler’s regime. The hall was hit several times by explosive air bombs and artillery shells, which left in ruins the entrance and the surrounding area. Two months after the end of the hostilities, US servicemen entering the area found the station badly hit, but back in business and with U-bahn trains in service again.

Photo: US NARA.

Photo: US NARA.

This is a short reel of the original footage recorded on that day by the US camera team during their tour to visit the ruined Berlin streets:

Video source: Source: US NARA.

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Wittenbergplatz’s back to life