Gazing up at the imposing structure, one might easily miss the dark chapter etched into the Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg’s past. This is Berlin’s oldest water tower. Completed in 1877, the Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg supplied water until 1952.
Designed by Henry Gill, the English Waterworks Company built it. It was meant to serve the rapidly growing population. The tower used piped water to meet the needs of workers.
Below the tank were homes for the machinery operators. These apartments are still inhabited. They are a landmark of Prenzlauer Berg. The Wasserturm even appeared on district coats of arms.
But the Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg holds a darker secret. After the National Socialists took power, the SA misused the engine house. It became a “wild concentration camp” in 1933. Communists, socialists, Jews, and others were interned there. They were murdered without trial. A memorial wall commemorates these crimes.
The concentration camp became the “SA-Heim Wasserturm” in June 1933. Engine House I served as a dining and recreation room. Engine House II became a dormitory. In 1935, Engine House I was blown up.
A public park replaced it in 1937. Today, a playground stands on the site. The dark history remains a sobering thought.
The Wasserturm’s water supply role ended in 1914. The tower’s capacity could not meet the growing city’s demand. It then served as a surge tank until 1952.
From 1922 to 1930, a soup kitchen operated in the engine house. The underground reservoir served as a store and for fish processing.
Today, the Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg is a residential building. Since 1994, Förderband uses the water tank for public art events. Visitors are fascinated by the tank’s acoustics. The echo lasts 18 seconds in the large tank. It lasts four to five seconds in the small tank.
The park around the Wasserturm was restored in 2007. Roses now grow on its slopes. A playground offers space for children to play.
So, as you explore the Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg, remember its dual history. It is a story of progress and of profound darkness. The Wasserturm stands as a reminder of Berlin’s complex past. It embodies resilience and remembrance.