Portico of the destroyed Anhalter Station

Gazing upwards at the towering Portico of the destroyed Anhalter Station, imagine the grandeur that once was. This imposing fragment whispers tales of a bygone era, a time when Berlin’s Anhalter Bahnhof was a bustling hub connecting the city to destinations across Europe. Built between 1839 and 1841, the original Anhalter Bahnhof served as the terminus for the Berlin-Anhalt Railway. The station we evoke in our minds, however, is the grand reconstruction designed by Franz Schwechten, completed in 1880. This magnificent structure boasted a monumental platform hall, 170 meters long and over 60 meters wide, accommodating six main tracks and an intermediate track. Picture the scene: arched windows allowing sunlight to stream into the waiting rooms, the timber-framed facade welcoming travelers from near and far. Anhalter Bahnhof wasn’t just a station; it was a microcosm of Berlin life, a place where emperors and everyday citizens crossed paths. It witnessed joyous departures for holidays and tearful farewells as people fled the Nazi regime. Tragically, it also served as a point of departure for over 9,000 Jewish people deported to concentration camps. The war took its toll. Despite resuming operations with provisional repairs in 1946, the station’s fate was sealed by the division of Germany. No longer a crucial link to the south, the Anhalter Bahnhof was closed in 1952. Between 1959 and 1961, the once-proud building was demolished, leaving only this poignant portico as a stark reminder of its former glory. Look closely at the sculptures adorning the entrance. Though replicas, they echo the originals by Ludwig Brunow, depicting the personifications of day and night. The Portico of the destroyed Anhalter Station stands as a memorial, not just to the building itself, but to the countless stories it witnessed, the lives that passed through its arches, and the tumultuous history it represents.