The imposing figure of St Anthony greets you. His gaze seems to follow you as you approach St Antonius Hospital. This imposing building stands before you a silent witness to a century of history.
St Antonius Hospital in Berlin’s Karlshorst district wasn’t always a Catholic University of Social Sciences. It began its life in 1928 as a state-of-the-art hospital. The Marienschwestern a congregation of nuns from Breslau built it. Their goal was to provide much-needed healthcare in East Berlin. They completed construction in just 18 months. The hospital boasted 300 beds.
Professor Paul Lazarus the hospital’s first chief physician played a pivotal role. He was a pioneer in modern radiation oncology. His innovative approaches made St Antonius one of Germany’s most advanced hospitals. It featured covered terraces for patients to enjoy fresh air. There were also movement and terrain therapies. Lazarus even introduced hygiene lectures for the public. This forward-thinking approach was unique for its time. Sadly Lazarus’s career was cut short in 1933. Labeled a “non-Aryan” he lost his teaching license and his position in 1936. He emigrated to Switzerland in 1937.
World War II ended and the hospital’s story took a dark turn. The Soviet Military Administration in Germany SMAD seized the building in May 1945. It became a military hospital for a time. Later the KGB the Soviet secret service took over. The hospital became something quite different a place of incarceration and interrogation. The basement was used as a prison where political dissidents suffered untold horrors.
This dark chapter of the hospital’s past ended in 1963. The building then housed the East German Ministry of Agriculture. It remained under this administration until German reunification in 1990. Then the Marienschwestern finally regained ownership. The St Antonius Hospital was given a new purpose.
Since 1991 St Antonius Hospital has been home to the Catholic University of Social Sciences. The building’s history is a poignant reminder of the turbulent 20th century. It shows how one space can hold such contrasting stories. The Bauhaus architectural elements still remain. These elements are a testament to its innovative past. The colourful tiles and mullioned windows are a striking feature. St Anthony’s statue still stands proudly at the entrance. He is a silent guardian of this place a landmark with a story to tell.