A forgotten waterway whispers tales of industry and nature’s quiet reclamation. This is the Zehlendorfer Stichkanal. A one-kilometer-long canal it’s a northern branch of the Teltow Canal. Located in Berlin’s Lichterfelde district this waterway holds a fascinating history.
Originally part of the old Teltow Lake the Zehlendorfer Stichkanal took its current form during the Teltow Canal’s construction in the early 20th century. Back then it lay within the municipality of Zehlendorf. It’s a remnant of a much larger lake. The shrinking of the lake created new land. This led to shrewd investments.
The banker Carl Neuburger saw potential. He acquired land along the canal. In 1904 he founded the Zehlendorfer Eisenbahn und Hafen AG (Zeuhag). This private railway started operations in 1905. It connected Lichterfelde West to the industrial area. Initially horse-drawn later locomotives powered the line.
A pivotal moment arrived with the establishment of C P Goerz’s optical factory. This company had started small. It had a shop in Berlin. But it produced the world’s first slit shutter camera. Later the company expanded. It built a large factory at the Zehlendorfer Stichkanal’s harbor. A housing estate for its employees was built nearby. Goerz bought the Zehlendorfer Eisenbahn und Hafen AG. Passenger transport on the so-called “Goerzbahn” began. In 1926 Zeiss-Ikon AG acquired a major stake in Goerz. Production shifted to cameras and cinema equipment.
Close by Telefunken works were built. These became a major US Army base after World War II. Known as McNair Barracks they housed thousands of soldiers. A small town-like atmosphere developed there. A church a fitness center and other amenities were present.
After the US Army left the harbor’s importance faded. The Berlin Blockade and the Wall impacted businesses. Many companies moved West. The Goerzbahn’s tracks remain. The Zehlendorfer Stichkanal is now a biotope. Industry still exists nearby but its transport shifted to roads. The waterway itself is a quiet reminder of Berlin’s industrial past and a testament to nature’s persistent return. Today boats are forbidden. The Zehlendorfer Stichkanal is designated as a natural landscape. It’s a place for quiet reflection. A place for remembering how things were. And the potential of what could be.