Beneath the Else-Rauch-Platz lies a secret. A World War II bunker a silent guardian of the past. This isn’t just any park in Hamburg’s Eimsbüttel district. The Else-Rauch-Platz holds a poignant history. It was once known as Methfesselplatz. The name changed in 1995. It honors Else Rauch a Jewish teacher murdered in the Kulmhof extermination camp in 1942.
The Else-Rauch-Platz is more than a place. It’s a memorial. It’s a space where children play. Where a monthly flea market thrives. Its 6171 square meters are nestled between Lutterothstraße Methfesselstraße Hartwig-Hesse-Straße and Stellinger Weg. The park itself is small. It slopes gently from Methfesselstraße westward. It is approximately 100 meters long and 100 meters wide in the north and 50 meters wide in the south.
Imagine the Else-Rauch-Platz before its redesign in 1999-2000. It was a neglected space. A former turning point for tram line 16. The line ceased operation in 1967 leaving the place empty and forgotten. The underground bunker remained. A hidden network of tunnels connected it to other bunkers. One beneath a school on Telemannstraße the other on Osterstraße. These tunnels are a reminder of a dark past. A past this place now strives to overcome.
Today the Else-Rauch-Platz is a vibrant hub. It’s a place of remembrance and community. The annual Methfesselfest is a testament to this. It features local information. It also offers readings puppet shows discussions live music and a film festival. This is one of Hamburg’s few non-commercial neighborhood festivals. The profits always go to charity. The organizers are volunteers dedicated to keeping the spirit of community and remembrance alive. The Else-Rauch-Platz itself is a small park. It’s a peaceful place where history and community intertwine. A quiet space of remembrance for Else Rauch. A testament to the resilience of the human spirit. A space where the past and present meet.