Lichterfelde developed around the old Prussian military academy, Hauptkadettenanstalt. The Prussians built trams and roads, and mansions to house their military officers who were of aristocratic origin. Cobblestone roads and the “mansion colonies” of Lichterfelde-West and East were their contributions. Another group that left their mark on Lichterfelde was the Nazis. In 1933 they took over the cadet academy to house the Leibstandarte SS, Hitler’s personal guards. They left behind Nazi motifs carved in stone in various buildings—some subtle and some not so much—and architecture built in the distinctive National Socialist style.
Today the cadet academy is the site of "Andrews Barracks" for the U.S. Army. The U.S. duty train terminates at Lichterfelde-West, operating only at night to transport diplomats and military personnel to their duty stations in Berlin. The Teltowkanal flows through Lichterfelde, along two of the district’s main roads.
Security is always tight with heavy patrols by both the Bundespolizei and the U.S. military police. The streets are cobblestone and lit up with ornate, wrought iron lamp-posts from the 19th century. Lichterfelde is prestigious and synonymous with great military tradition. The people who live here are amongst Berlin’s elite. There is no real sense of community here—the U.S. military makes everyone uneasy. The people keep their noses out of each other’s business and are even less keen to talk to outsiders.
Locations
Lichterfelde-West
Lichterfelde-West is west of the Teltowkanal. It is primarily a mansion district developed around the old Prussian military academy, Hauptkadettenanstalt. The streets are cobblestone and lit up with ornate, wrought iron lamp-posts from the 19th century. The mansions were built in a variety of styles, from Gothic to Tudor to Neo-Renaissance. U.S. military presence is heavy in this area and G.I.’s and military jeeps are a common sight.
Bahnhof Berlin-Lichterfelde West
This station does not see much use from the S-bahn due to the construction of the Berlin Wall. It is the Terminus for the United States military duty trains, which only runs at night between Berlin and West Germany. The station was built in the style of a Tuscan villa for the development of the mansion colony in Lichterfelde-West. A complex of arched windows and pale orange bricks opens up to a platform, which allows access to the long-distance railway tracks.
Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden
- Science 3
Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden This garden is associated with the Free University of Berlin but is physically located in Lichterfelde. The garden occupies 43 hectares of land and contains around 22,000 different species of plants. It has several glass-houses, such as the Cactus Pavilion and the Pavilion Victoria, which houses orchids, carnivorous plants and giant white water lilies, and the Great Pavilion, which displays tropical plants such as the giant bamboo. The Great Pavilion, one of the largest in the world, has a dome-shaped glass roof and towers over a lawn displaying topiary and flower hedges, where different flowers are in bloom at different times of the year. Inside the glass house, the temperature is kept at 30 degrees celsius and the air is quite muggy and humid.
The southern and western part of the gardens are taken up by the arboretum, a comprehensive and methodical collection of native plants. The arboretum borders several ponds. The north western part of the compound houses the Apothekergarten (pharmacist’s garden), a collection of plants with healing properties. East of the main path is the water and marsh bed compound, with heated water basins to simulate an environment for tropical marsh flora.
Japanese Garden
Ginkgoes, conifers, magnolias and maples are planted around a winding path. In spring the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. In the summer the hydrangea shrubs flower in bright purple colours. The chrysanthemums open in the fall and the Japanese apricot blossoms near the end of winter. At the edge of the garden is a small stream with a red bridge arching across it. At the centre of the garden is a Japanese gazebo—with a green pagoda roof and red painted pillars. Benches are available on the raised platform for visitors to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Collapsed Tunnel
In one of the courtyards of this vast garden, you come upon a pile of rubble that used to house some kind of entrance. Picking through the rubble enables you to clear the way forward into the long tunnel.
Long passageway
Storage room
Campus Benjamin Franklin
- Medicine 4
- Status:Health
This is the teaching hospital of the Free University of Berlin. It is a complex containing clinics, lecture rooms, scientific and research facilities built from 1959 to 1969. The United States contributed a fifth of the construction costs as “proof of American interest in the future of Berlin”. Hence the hospital was given its name, “Benjamin Franklin”. The building of the hospital was built in a contemporary style, with the main body comprised of rectangular blocks beside or stacked on top of each other. Repeating geometric patterns and rows of angled windows make up the facade.
The interior of the hospital is overwhelmingly sterile white. Modern and well-equipped, the hospital contains some 1,200 beds and is staffed by general practitioners and specialists. At 9pm it is lights-out in the wards though activity never really ceases. The machines continue to beep, the night-shift staff do their rounds, and the 24-hour emergency department is just getting busy.
Old Prussian Military Academy
- Intimidation 4