Here stands a testament to Swiss resilience. The Embassy of Switzerland in Berlin. It’s more than just a building. It’s a symbol of continuity amidst a turbulent history.
The Swiss Embassy enjoys a prominent location. It is right next door to the Federal Chancellery in Berlin’s Spreebogen. The red flag with the white cross is hard to miss.
This historic Stadtpalais was bought by Switzerland in 1919. It has remarkably survived the last 100 years. It has not burned down or been demolished. Nor has it been sold. The Embassy of Switzerland has had a very eventful life.
The building was constructed around 1871. Friedrich Theodor Frerichs, a famous doctor, was its first owner. The Swiss government acquired it for a very good price. Germany was politically unstable then. Investors were reluctant to buy German property. Switzerland sought to stop renting. It wanted to acquire properties in major European capitals. The embassy began operating here in 1920.
The Swiss Embassy miraculously remained standing during World War II. It survived the bombings that devastated the area. The Swiss Embassy continued to occupy their property. This was due to the bombing of the building they were supposed to move into. It also remained throughout the Germania Project.
After the war, the capital moved to Bonn. The building remained Swiss property. But it did not host the embassy anymore. Situated near the Berlin Wall, the edifice remained in “no man’s land”. It was a dead-zone used as potato fields. The Swiss Federal Government tried to sell the property in the 1970s. But no one was interested.
The situation changed drastically when Germany reunited in 1989. Berlin became the capital city again. Within a decade, the Swiss Embassy building went from standing in the middle of nowhere to proudly standing between the Reichstag and the Chancellery. It is said to be one of the best property deals in history.
Peter Gross, a Swiss chef, experienced the tensions of divided Germany. He worked at the Residence of the Swiss Embassy in East Berlin. He was a chef for Hans Miesch, Switzerland’s first ambassador to the GDR. Gross used his diplomatic license to help his East Berlin girlfriend cross the border. He hid her in the boot of his Mini.
On February 1, 1975, Stasi staff stopped him at the border checkpoint. The couple was arrested for multiple illegal border crossings. They were also accused of aiding desertion from the Republic. Gross was betrayed to the Stasi. He received five years’ imprisonment. His girlfriend was given four and a half years. They were imprisoned in the Stasi’s Bautzen II special detention center.
The GDR wanted to use them as bargaining chips for the Wolfin agents. The Wolfins had spied for the Stasi in Switzerland. Switzerland considered the cases not comparable. Gross and his girlfriend were freed early in 1978. They were released into West Germany. They later married in Switzerland. The GDR rulings against them were set aside after German reunification.
In 1995, Diener & Diener architects renovated the building. They added a modern part to the building.
Today, H.E. Livia Leu serves as the Ambassador of Switzerland to Germany. She has been in the position since 2023. She and her team are dedicated to enhancing ties between Switzerland and Germany. They engage in energetic diplomacy.
The Embassy of Switzerland stands as a symbol of continuity. It reflects resilience and the enduring spirit of diplomacy. It’s a landmark with a rich history.