“Power up” is probably what the workers here thought every day. The Teilobjekt Transformatorenstation Oberspree stands as a silent witness to Berlin’s industrial past. It represents an era of innovation and hard work.
Let’s step back in time. Berlin’s industry boomed in the late 19th century. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing. Factories moved to the city’s edge.
AEG’s CEO Emil Rathenau founded the Oberspree Cable Works or Kabelwerk an der Oberspree in 1897. It was known as KWO. It produced electrical cables and wires. In 1913, AEG expanded the campus eastward. It stretched along the Spree’s bend.
Heavy loads were easily transported via the Spree. Building materials, raw materials, and coal arrived by ship. Finished goods were shipped worldwide.
The German electrical industry was vital during both World Wars. It supplied the armaments industry. The Kabelwerk Oberspree grew. It became Germany’s largest metalworking company at times.
Rising demand meant more workers. During World War II, forced laborers worked here. Jewish people and concentration camp prisoners were among them.
After the Berlin Wall fell, KWO struggled. It closed in 1995. The yellow brick buildings were listed for preservation. Today, the restored buildings house the Berlin University of Applied Sciences. HTW calls it home. One former factory building is now an events venue. It sits on the Spree’s bank.
Günter Krawutschke captured images of workers at KWO. As a photographer, he focused on the people. His photos documented their lives during the GDR era. These images offer a glimpse into a bygone world. They show emotional moments against a backdrop of hard work.
The Teilobjekt Transformatorenstation Oberspree is more than just a building. It is a reminder of Berlin’s industrial might. It symbolizes innovation, labor and historical change. It connects the past to the present. It invites reflection on the city’s dynamic story.