Imagine a hippo basking not in water but in the hearts of Berliners. This is the story of Nilpferd Knautschke Statue. It is more than a sculpture. It is a symbol of resilience and affection.
Let’s dive into the tale of the original Knautschke. He was born in 1943 at the Berlin Zoo. World War II was raging. The zoo was heavily bombed. Only 91 animals survived. Knautschke was one of them. His water basin was destroyed. Zookeepers and locals kept him alive. They doused him with water and donated food.
Knautschke became a symbol of hope. He represented survival against all odds. After the war, he fathered many offspring. Sadly, in 1988, a fight with his son Nante led to severe injuries. He had to be euthanized. Today, a bronze statue at Hippo Bay commemorates him.
Our Knautschke Statue here is another tribute. This concrete hippo was created by local sculptor Erwin Kobbert. It once stood proudly at the Wernerbad in Kaulsdorf. The Wernerbad was Berlin’s first open-air swimming pool. It predated the Strandbad Wannsee by two years.
The Wernerbad closed in 2002. Since then, Knautschke has been guarding the deserted pool. He stands among the long grass. He watches over the silent water. The statue was named after the famous zoo hippo. It also had a group of penguins that supervised the queues at the water fountain.
The Wernerbad has a rich history. Wilhelm Werner bought the land around Wernersee in the early 1900s. In 1901, he opened the Badeschlösschen. It was a restaurant and bathing lodge. The Wernerbad was formally opened in 1905.
The city of Berlin took over the Freibad in 1951. A 50m tiled pool was built between 1957 and 1959. Despite improvements, the pool closed in 2002 due to water quality concerns. The association Freunde des Wernerbades e.V. tried to reopen it. But issues like parking, noise, and cost prevented it.
In 2013, the Wernerbad was declassified as a sports area. This allowed the sale of the land. A home for the elderly with dementia treatment facilities is planned. The eastern shore of Wernersee will remain public. Marzahn-Hellersdorf is now the only Berlin district without a Freibad.
Sven Kohlmeier is determined to keep the Nilpferd Knautschke Statue in Kaulsdorf. For now, reeds grow around our concrete hippo. He stands still in the Wernerbad’s dirty water. Like many derelict sites in Berlin, it is visited by those seeking adventure.
So, as you stand before the Nilpferd Knautschke Statue, remember its story. Remember the real hippo who survived the war. Remember the community that rallied around him. This statue is not just concrete. It is a piece of Berlin’s heart. It embodies resilience, community, and the enduring power of a beloved hippo.