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Heavy Load-Bearing Body: A Relic of Nazi Urban Planning

Explore Berlin's Heavy Load-Bearing Body: A monument to unrealized Nazi ambitions and a testament to the city's complex history.

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The Heavy Load-Bearing Body (Schwerbelastungskörper) is a massive concrete cylinder erected in Berlin in the early 1940s to test the feasibility of constructing large buildings on the city's marshy ground. It served as a trial for Hitler's planned triumphal arch, a key element of his vision to transform Berlin into 'Germania,' the capital of a new world order. Today, it stands as a historical landmark and a reminder of the ambitious and ultimately unrealized Nazi urban planning.

A brief summary to Heavy Load-Bearing Body

  • Tuesday 1 pm-6 pm
  • Wednesday 1 pm-6 pm
  • Thursday 1 pm-6 pm
  • Saturday 1 pm-6 pm
  • Sunday 1 pm-6 pm

Local tips

  • Visit during the weekend when it is open to the public for extended hours.
  • Check for guided tours that provide in-depth information about the monument's history.
  • Bring a camera to capture the unique structure and its surroundings.
  • Take time to read the informational plaques to better appreciate the engineering significance of the site.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    To reach the Heavy Load-Bearing Body via public transport, take the S-Bahn to Südkreuz station. From there, it's approximately a 14-minute walk to General-Pape-Straße 34A. Alternatively, take bus line 106, 140, M43, or M46 to the Kolonnenbrücke stop, which is a 5-minute walk from the site. A single ticket for zones A and B costs around €3.50.

  • Walking

    If you are near Tempelhofer Feld, exit the park at Tempelhofer Damm. Head towards General-Pape-Straße and continue walking straight for about 15 minutes until you reach General-Pape-Straße 34A.

  • Taxi

    A taxi ride from the city center to General-Pape-Straße 34A will cost approximately €15, depending on traffic. Taxi rates in Berlin start at €4.00, with an additional €2.20 per kilometer. Ride-sharing services like Uber are also available.

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Discover more about Heavy Load-Bearing Body

The Heavy Load-Bearing Body, or Schwerbelastungskörper, is a colossal concrete cylinder located in Berlin's Tempelhof-Schöneberg district. Constructed between 1941 and 1942, this structure was commissioned by Adolf Hitler's chief architect, Albert Speer, to assess the ground's suitability for massive constructions, particularly a gigantic triumphal arch. This arch was intended to be the centerpiece of 'Germania,' Hitler's vision for a redesigned Berlin as the capital of his new world. The cylinder weighs over 12,000 tons and was designed to simulate the load of one pillar of the planned triumphal arch. Measurements were taken to determine how far the cylinder sank into the ground; had it sunk less than 6 cm, the soil would have been deemed suitable for construction. The test revealed that the ground was not stable enough to support such massive structures without significant reinforcement. After World War II, the Schwerbelastungskörper remained standing, a silent witness to the failed ambitions of the Nazi regime. In 1995, it was listed as a historical monument, and since 2002, it has been owned by the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district. Today, the site serves as an information center, providing insights into the history of Nazi urban planning and encouraging critical engagement with this dark chapter of history. Visitors can explore the structure, view informational displays, and ascend to the observation platform to grasp the scale of the planned 'Germania' project.

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