Deutschlandhalle

Deutschlandhalle was an arena located in the Westend neighbourhood of Berlin, Germany. It was inaugurated on 29 November 1935 by Adolf Hitler. The building was granted landmark status in 1995, but on 3 December 2011 the building was demolished.

Deutschlandhalle
LocationMessedamm 26
14055 Westend, Berlin
Coordinates52°30′01″N 13°16′11″E
OwnerGovernment of Berlin
OperatorMesse Berlin GmbH
CapacityIce hockey: 8,630
Concerts: 10,000
Construction
Opened29 November 1935
Closed27 April 2009
Demolished3 December 2011
ArchitectFranz Ohrtmann
Fritz Wiemer
Tenants
BSC Preussen (2001–2004)
ECC Preussen Juniors Berlin (2006–2009)

History

Built primarily for the 1936 Summer Olympics, the Deutschlandhalle could hold 8,764 people. The Olympic boxing, weightlifting and wrestling competitions took place here.[1] On 19 February 1938 test pilot Hanna Reitsch demonstrated the first indoor flight in the arena with a Focke-Wulf Fw 61 helicopter.

Deutschlandhalle in 1939, in the foreground terrace of the AVUS race track

Heavily damaged by air raids in 1943, the Deutschlandhalle was rebuilt after World War II and from 1957 served as a multi purpose arena and sports venue, in the last years primarily for ice hockey, but also for indoor soccer and again for boxing.

After the 1990 German reunification, the Deutschlandhalle lost its position as Berlin's primary arena, replaced by the newly erected Velodrom, Max-Schmeling-Halle and Mercedes-Benz Arena.

After the building had to be closed for repairs several times, the Berlin Senate in May 2008 decided to demolish it.[2] Demolition took place on 3 December 2011 with the explosive destruction of the roof.[3]

Events

The arena hosted the 1980 FIBA European Champions Cup final between Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and Real Madrid, in which Madrid won 89–85,[4][5] the 1995 FIBA Korać Cup finals in which local Alba Berlin won the trophy[6] and the 1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships.

The building has also been used for musical events: as part of her À travers l'Europe Tour, in 1959 Dalida had a sold out concert in front of audience of 9,500. Ella Fitzgerald performed here in 1960; the concert was recorded as Ella in Berlin. On 4 September 1970, it was the site of Jimi Hendrix's penultimate performance.

The 1981 film Christiane F. shows a performance by David Bowie in the Deutschlandhalle (this scene consists of footage of crowds at an unrelated AC/DC concert in the Deutschlandhalle interspersed with studio scenes featuring Bowie).

References
  1. 1936 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. pp. 705, 737.
  2. Brigitte Schmiemann, "Mit der Deutschlandhalle fällt ein Stück Geschichte", Die Welt 27 May 2008 (in German)
  3. Deutschlandhalle ist gesprengt. In: Der Tagesspiegel, Onlineausgabe, 3. Dezember 2011
  4. Real Madrid – Maccabi, final de la Copa de Europa de 1980 (Spanish)
  5. 8 EUROLIGAS BALONCESTO (6 SUBCAMPEÓN) (EUROPEAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS CUP)
  6. Club History Archived 2007-11-15 at the Wayback Machine
Preceded by
Palais des Sports
Grenoble		 FIBA European Champions Cup
Final Venue
1980		 Succeeded by
Rhénus Sport
Strasbourg
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