“They say the ghosts of Bismarck’s last moments still linger here” a voice whispers. Welcome to the Rxf6mischer Hof a building steeped in Berlin’s rich history. Right before you stands a survivor a testament to the city’s resilience. This wasn’t always an office building. It began its life in 1775 as the Hotel Ville de Rome later the Hotel Rom. Imagine the elegance the lavish parties. The Hotel de Rome was one of Berlin’s most prestigious hotels its Renaissance-style facade a beacon of luxury.
Fast forward to 1898. An illegal photograph surfaced here a picture of Bismarck on his deathbed. The photo was sold illegally within these very walls. This building witnessed a moment of clandestine history a fleeting glimpse into the secretive dealings of the time. The Hotel Rom lost its luster around 1900. In 1910 it was demolished. But the site did not remain empty.
On this very spot the Rxf6mischer Hof rose. Architects Kurt Berndt and A F M Lange designed the office and business building. Construction began in 1910. The rough work was finished by July 1911. In spring 1912 the building was ready for occupancy. Most of the facade that we see today dates from this era. The main entrance was on Charlottenstrasse.
The Deutsche Verkehrs- und Kreditbank had the building renovated in 1935. In 1943 an Allied air raid damaged the rear of the building. The Deutsche Reichsbahn took over in 1949. In the late 1960s the Bulgarian Cultural and Information Centre opened on the ground floor. The East German State Travel Bureau used the former bank’s counter until 1989.
From 2000 to 2005 the Berlin Story bookstore and the Cookies club occupied the ground floor. The building owner Vivico had the structure gutted starting in spring 2005. Using historical photos and documents they painstakingly restored the building. The wing on Charlottenstrasse completely rebuilt. In September 2006 the Rxf6mischer Hof reopened.
Today prestigious companies including E-Plus the Palazzo Italia Ferrari and Condxe9 Nast have offices here. Vivico trademarked the name “Rxf6mischer Hof” making it a brand. But the most thrilling story may be the infamous 1951 robbery. The Pannewitz gang rented space on the ground floor. They drilled a hole to the vault of the Deutsche Verkehrs- und Kreditbank. This held the wages of the Reichsbahn employees. They stole almost 1.7 million DDR Marks and 224 000 Deutsche Marks.
The robbery was twice filmed. The first German-German co-production film Der Bruch (The Break) starring Gxf6tz George Rolf Hoppe and Otto Sander was released in 1989. It tells the story of this incredible heist. The Rxf6mischer Hof isn’t just a building. It is a living chronicle of Berlin’s history a place where past and present intertwine. Its story continues unfolding in the heart of the city.