Imagine a bustling square, not of today, but one teeming with Prussian military figures. That was Wilhelmplatz. Today, we stand on what was once Wilhelmplatz in Berlin. This square holds a significant place in German history.
Wilhelmplatz’s story began in 1721 during the Friedrichstadt expansion. It officially became Wilhelmplatz in 1749. The name honored King Frederick William I of Prussia. He heavily influenced the area’s architecture.
Initially, planners envisioned a traditional grid layout for the streets. However, focus shifted to three main north-south routes. These radiated from a central circular space. We know that today as Mehringplatz. These streets became Wilhelmstrasse, Friedrichstrasse, and Lindenstrasse. A royal decree in 1734 designated a large square on Wilhelmstrasse. This became Wilhelmplatz.
Early maps show the square on the northern third of the street. It opened from its eastern side. It was first called Wilhelms-Markt until 1749. The name then changed to Wilhelmplatz. Frederick William I, the “Soldier King,” shaped the area.
Thirty grand townhouses arose along northern Wilhelmstrasse and Wilhelmplatz from the 1730s. These housed military personnel and court officials. The state provided land and subsidies to contractors. Some saw it as an honor. Others viewed it as a financial burden.
Palais Marschall, on the west side of the square, became a focal point. Its location allowed a clear view from eastward. Next door, Palais Schulenburg was built. However, it was crowded into the northwest corner. This left no room for a forecourt. Later, in 1878, Palais Schulenburg became the official seat of the Imperial Chancellor.
Palais Marschall and Palais Schulenburg had large gardens. These stretched west to present-day Ebertstrasse. They grew fruits and vegetables for Berlin markets. Later, these became known as the “Ministergärten” when the buildings became government offices.
The Ordenspalais was the first building erected on the square in 1737. It served as the seat of the Order of Saint John. Frederick William I had to persuade corporations to relocate to populate the area. A gold and silver manufacturer even set up shop. They financed the Great Military Orphanage in Potsdam.
Jews were forbidden from owning houses since 1727. But the Jewish community was given a property to build on. Veitel Heine Ephraim, head of the Jewish community, later acquired more property.
After the Seven Years’ War ended in 1763, statues honored fallen generals. These statues depicted military figures. Schwerin and Winterfeldt were posed in Roman clothing. Seydlitz and Keith wore contemporary uniforms.
Two more statues were added later. These depicted Hans Joachim von Zieten and Leopold I. The six sculptures stood overlooking the square for over a century. In 1857, the statues were replaced with bronze copies. The originals found a home in the Bode Museum.
Schinkel redesigned Wilhelmplatz in 1826. He moved the statues. He added greenery and a lawn with lime trees. This gave the square a park-like appearance.
Over time, some buildings were replaced with newer, larger ones. Palais Schulenburg briefly belonged to Sophie von Dönhoff. It then came into the possession of Anton Radziwill in 1796. It then became known as “Palais Radziwill”. Troops of the French Empire seized it in 1806. It served as Napoleon’s town major’s seat. Radziwill held salons here. In 1820, it hosted one of the first performances of Faust I. In 1869, the Kingdom of Prussia purchased Palais Radziwill. It became the chancellery of the new German Empire.
The state took ownership of the Ordenspalais in 1811. King Frederick William III gave it to his son, Prince Charles. It was renamed “Palais Prinz Karl”. Stüler remodeled the building.
By the late 18th century, Prussian nobility struggled to maintain the Palais. The state began acquiring property along Wilhelmstrasse. This preserved its image as a window into Prussian tradition. Ministries and authorities established themselves. The area became the German government quarter.
After the German Empire formed in 1871, Wilhelmstrasse became the political center. Existing Prussian offices transformed. New ones emerged. This created a need for office buildings. The surroundings became business-like.
During the Nazi era, the Ordenspalais became the Ministry of Propaganda. Hitler commissioned the new Reich Chancellery across the square. Buildings around the square suffered heavy damage in World War II. In 1950, Wilhelmplatz was renamed Thälmannplatz. In the 1980s, apartment complexes were built over the square.
Today, as we stand here, try to envision the Prussian military figures, the grand townhouses, and the political machinations that once defined Wilhelmplatz. While much has changed, the echoes of its past resonate through this space.