Catalogue

Blick Richtung Wilhelmstraße, links oben das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Mit Spaten in der Hand (v.l.n.r.): Georg Kowalski, Heinz-Dieter Schilling, Falk Harnack (z.T. verdeckt) und Christine Fischer-Defoy. Links das Hochhaus des Europahauskomplexes an der Stresemannstraße, in der Mitte das sogenannte „Hervis-Hochhaus“ und rechts der Martin-Gropius-Bau. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Blick in Richtung Berliner Mauer. Im Hintergrund das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium und ein Schutthügel der Bauschuttverwertungsfirma. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Sabine Weißler spricht vor dem Hinweisschild „Hier befanden sich Folterzellen der Geheimen Staatspolizei“. Rechts das Hochhaus des Europahauskomplexes, der Mitte, hinter dem Hinweisschild, der sog. „Dessauer Turm“ in der Dessauer Straße. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Heinz-Dieter Schilling (7.v.r.) und Christine Fischer Defoy (6.v.r.) beim Graben vor dem Hügel der Bauschuttverwertungsfirma. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Graben vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Auf dem Bauwagen rechts hinten ist die Aufschrift „IBA SO 36 besetzt“ erkennbar. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Blick auf die Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Hinten in der Mitte (mit weißem Schal): Kurt Schilde. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Bauelemente vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus, die vermutlich für den Martin-Gropius-Bau bestimmt sind. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Blick auf die Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus und das Hinweisschild. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Blick in südliche Richtung. Im Hintergrund das Excelsiorhaus und rechts der Ostflügel des Europahauskomplexes, das heutige „Deutschlandhaus“ an der Stresemannstraße. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Graben vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Davor der Bauwagen mit der Aufschrift „IBA SO 36 besetzt“. Hinter der Berliner Mauer ist die Südostecke des Abgeordnetenhauses zu sehen. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Graben vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Hinten rechts die Südostecke des Abgeordnetenhauses. Im Vordergrund links: Heinz-Dieter Schilling (mit weißem Schal). Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Graben vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Hinten rechts die Südostecke des Abgeordnetenhauses. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Sabine Weißler (Bildmitte) vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Im Hintergrund die Berliner Mauer und das Abgeordnetenhaus. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Sabine Weißler (vorne rechts) beim Graben vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Blick auf das Abgeordnetenhaus (links), die Nordostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus (mit Gerüst), die Berliner Mauer und das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium. In der Bildmitte mit dunkler Jacke, direkt hinter den Grabenden: Hans Tödtmann. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Graben vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Blick in südliche Richtung. Im Hintergrund das „KuKuCK-Haus“ in der Anhalter Straße 7, das Excelsiorhaus und rechts der Ostflügel des Europahauskomplexes, das heutige „Deutschlandhaus“. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Hinten links ein Fahrzeug der West-Berliner Polizei. Dahinter das „KuKuCK-Haus“ in der Anhalter Straße 7, das Excelsiorhaus und rechts der Ostflügel des Europahauskomplexes, das heutige „Deutschlandhaus“. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Das Hinweisschild vor der Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Foto-Archiv Paul Glaser, Berlin

Blick von einem der Schutthügel auf den Ort der Grabungsaktion. Links das Hochhaus des Europahauskomplexes, in der Mitte das das sogenannte „Hervis-Hochhaus“ und rechts der Martin-Gropius-Bau. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Blick Richtung Stresemannstraße, in der Mitte des Bildes das Hinweisschild. Links, im hellen Mantel, Falk Harnack, im Vordergrund vermutlich der Fotograf Hans Peter Stiebing. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Sabine Weißler spricht. Links das Hochhaus des Europahauskomplexes, in der Mitte der Turm der Lukaskirche und das sogenannte „Hervis-Hochhaus“ und rechts der Martin-Gropius-Bau. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Sabine Weißler spricht. Links der sogenannte „Dessauer Turm“ in der Dessauer Straße, rechts der Martin-Gropius-Bau. Davor ein unbekannter Fotograf. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Sabine Weißler spricht. Links das Hochhaus des Europahauskomplexes, in der Mitte der sogenannte „Dessauer Turm“ in der Dessauer Straße und rechts der Martin-Gropius-Bau. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Sabine Weißler spricht vor der Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Etwas rechts davon (im hellen Mantel und mit Mütze): Falk Harnack. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Die Südostecke und ein Teil der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Im Hintergrund ist der Europahauskomplex zu sehen. Rechts das Hochhaus, links der ehemalige „Ostflügel“ des Komplexes. Das Gebäude an dieser Stelle ist heute als „Deutschlandhaus“ Sitz der Stiftung Flucht Vertreibung Versöhnung. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt

Blick von einem Schutthügel auf den Ort der Grabungsaktion. Im Hintergrund links das sogenannte „Hervis-Hochhaus“, rechts davon der sogenannte „Dessauer Turm“ in der Dessauer Straße und rechts der Martin-Gropius-Bau. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Blick auf die Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus, das Abgeordnetenhaus und die Berliner Mauer. Auf dem Boden liegt ein Werbeschild mit der Aufschrift „Entlang der Mauer – 2 min von hier“. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Graben und Beobachten. Im Hintergrund das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium und der Schutthügel der Bauschuttverwertungsfirma. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Blick auf das Hinweisschild, die Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus, das Abgeordnetenhaus, die Berliner Mauer und das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium. In der Mitte hinten ist der Bauwagen mit der Aufschrift „IBA SO 36 besetzt“ erkennbar. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Mit Schaufeln und Spaten wird in den Boden gegraben, in dem sich viele Steine befinden. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Blick auf die Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus, das Abgeordnetenhaus und die Berliner Mauer. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Georg Kowalski (Mitte) nach Abschluss der Grabung. Im Hintergrund das Abgeordnetenhaus und die Berliner Mauer. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Abschluss der Grabung vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Zwei Polizisten kommen am Grabungsort vorbei. Regina Gößwald/Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

Teilnehmende vor dem Hinweisschild an der Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Georg Kowalski, Heinz-Dieter Schilling, Falk Harnack, Christine Fischer-Defoy, Sabine Weißler (v.l.n.r.). Im Hintergrund links das Hochhaus des Europahauskomplexes, in der Mitte das sogenannte „Hervis-Hochhaus“ und rechts die Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Mit einem Spaten in der Hand (jeweils v.l.n.r.): Georg Kowalski, Heinz-Dieter Schilling, Falk Harnack, Christine Fischer-Defoy. Mit Manuskripten: Jürgen Karwelat, Udo Gößwald, Sabine Weißler. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Mit einem Spaten in der Hand (v.l.n.r.): Georg Kowalski, Heinz-Dieter Schilling, Falk Harnack, Christine Fischer-Defoy, Sabine Weißler. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Sabine Weißler spricht. Links das Hochhaus des Europahauskomplexes. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Jürgen Karwelat, Udo Gößwald, Jutta Kausch-Henken (v.l.n.r.) beim Vortragen der Textcollage. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Veronika Hitpaß (2.v.l.) und Falk Harnack (Mitte). Im Hintergrund das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium und ein Schutthügel. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Jürgen Karwelat, Udo Gößwald, Jutta Kausch-Henken (v.l.n.r.) beim Vortragen der Textcollage. Im Hintergrund der Martin-Gropius-Bau. Am rechten Bildrand Fritz Teppich (weißes Hemd) und rechts von ihm Sabine Weißler. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Im Hintergrund in der Mitte das Excelsiorhaus. Am Ende des Grabens Jürgen Karwelat (mit Megafon) beim Vortragen der Textcollage, links von ihm der Fotograf Hans Peter Stiebing. Jürgen Henschel/FHXB Museum

Mit Spaten in der Hand (v.l.n.r.): Georg Kowalski, Heinz-Dieter Schilling, Falk Harnack Christine Fischer-Defoy und Sabine Weißler. Hinter Sabine Weißler Jürgen Karwelat und Udo Gößwald, rechts davon Jutta Kausch-Henken. Blick Richtung Stresemannstraße, im Hintergrund (v.l.n.r.) das Hochhaus des Europahauskomplexes, der Turm der Lukaskirche, das sogenannte „Hervis-Hochhaus“ und der „Dessauer Turm“ in der Dessauer Straße. Monika Rummler/Aktives Museum Faschismus und Widerstand in Berlin e.V.

Georg Kowalski und Christine Fischer-Defoy an der Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus und dem Hinweisschild. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Sabine Weißler an der Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus und dem Hinweisschild. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Am Beginn der Grabungsaktion. Links am Bildrand Heinz-Dieter Schilling (2.v.l.), daneben Jürgen Karwelat (5.v.l.) und Georg Kowalski (6.v.l.). Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Sabine Weißler (3.v.l.), Jutta Kausch-Henken (4.v.l.) und Jürgen Henschel (8.v.l.). Im Hintergrund das Hochhaus des Europahauskomplexes. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Christine Fischer-Defoy, Sabine Weißler, Annette Ahme (v.l.n.r.) an der Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Rechts (im hellen Mantel) Falk Harnack. Im Hintergrund rechts die Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus, links das Hinweisschild. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Blick Richtung ehemaliges Reichsluftfahrtministerium. Christine Fischer-Defoy (6.v.r.), Heinz-Dieter Schilling (4.v.r.) und Sabine Weißler (3.v.r.). Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Verlesen der Textcollage während der Grabungsaktion. Im Hintergrund das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium und ein Schutthügel der Bauschuttverwertungsfirma. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Verlesen der Textcollage während der Grabungsaktion. Im Hintergrund die Berliner Mauer und das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Udo Gößwald beim Verlesen der Textcollage. Im Hintergrund die Berliner Mauer und das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Blick Richtung Berliner Mauer und ehemaliges Reichsluftfahrtministerium. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Blick Richtung Wilhelmstraße, im Hintergrund Schutthügel der Bauschuttverwertungsfirma. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Blick in südliche Richtung. Hinten links das KuKuCK-Haus, in der Mitte das Excelsiorhaus, rechts der Europahauskomplex. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Blick Richtung Berliner Mauer, ehemaliges Reichsluftfahrtministerium, Schutthügel der Bauschuttverwertunsgfirma. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Blick Richtung Berliner Mauer. Im Hintergrund das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium und ein Schutthügel der Bauschuttverwertunsgfirma. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Ein Bauelement, das vermutlich für den Martin-Gropius-Bau bestimmt ist. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Blick Richtung Berliner Mauer. Im Hintergrund das ehemalige Reichsluftfahrtministerium und ein Schutthügel der Bauschuttverwertunsgfirma. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Graben vor der Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Graben vor der Südostecke des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Graben vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Davor der Bauwagen mit der Aufschrift „IBA SO 36 besetzt“. Hinter der Berliner Mauer ist die Südostecke des Abgeordnetenhauses zu sehen. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Graben vor der Ostfassade des Martin-Gropius-Baus. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Blick Richtung Berliner Mauer, ehemaliges Reichsluftfahrtministerium und Schutthügel der Bauschuttverwertungsfirma. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Nach Abschluss der Grabung, Blick Richtung Berliner Mauer, ehemaliges Reichsluftfahrtministerium und Schutthügel der Bauschuttverwertungsfirma. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

Gespräch an der Berliner Mauer. Hans Peter Stiebing (Nachlass apabiz e.V.)

»That was one of the best actions ever.«

In the 1980s, as a representative of the »Alternative List for Democracy and Environmental Protection« (AL) party, Annette Ahme was a member of the Kreuzberg district council and the Berlin House of Representatives.  She was also a founding member of the Active Museum.

How did you get involved?

I had introduced the idea of »simply« digging in public as a joint action with press coverage. I had spoken about it with Werner Orlowsky, the city councillor in charge of construction. He assured me that everything had been cleared away, that there was absolutely nothing left. I just didn’t believe it.

What in particular do you remember?

I drove around to different daycare centres and youth facilities with the man from Wille’s Locksmith Shop and an employee from daycare centre operations and we collected several spades and shovels.

My idea initially was ridiculed, but was adopted in the end.

What do you think of the action today?

It was one of the best actions ever.

»It was a very moving and symbolic action.«

In the 1980s, Christine Fischer-Defoy conducted research on the history of Berlin art schools in Nazi Germany. She was involved in the Active Museum and became chairwoman of the association in 1991. She later focused on emigration from Germany in 1933.  

How did you get involved?

We were told at the time by the Berlin state that no authentic remains were left on the grounds, that everything had been demolished and that it was pointless to look for historical traces there.

What in particular do you remember?

There were a lot of older people there, some of whom had been held in Gestapo prisons. We dug a trench along the area where we thought the enclosure wall of the Gestapo building might be, but we didn’t dig more than 30 centimetres.

What do you think of the action today?

It was a very moving and symbolic action that received a lot of media attention for turning this site into a memorial, a so-called »Denkort«.

In a way, it was the prelude to the Berlin state carrying out the real archaeological excavations the following year, during which several building remnants were discovered.

Photographer Paul Glaser was a member of the SPD and regularly took photographs for the party’s newspapers Vorwärts and Berliner Stimme. Through his photo series on political, social and ecological issues, he became one of West Berlin’s best-known chroniclers.

»The action was an important example of civic engagement.«

Political and cultural scientist Udo Gößwald was a founding member of the Berlin History Workshop and the Active Museum. He served as director of the Neukölln Museum from 1987 to 2022.

How did you get involved?

I enthusiastically supported the action and during the dig, I read aloud texts on the function of the Reich Security Main Office and the site’s history.

What in particular do you remember?

The enthusiastic digging at the site.

What do you think of the action today?

The action was an important example of civic engagement that got the ball rolling to intensify research into resistance and persecution under the Nazi regime.

At the same time, the perpetrator site was publicly marked and the Berlin Senate was called upon to establish a memorial and documentation centre there.

Falk Harnack was a resistance fighter in Nazi Germany and had contact with the White Rose and Red Orchestra resistance groups. After the war, he became a successful screenwriter and director. The Active Museum made him an honorary member in 1984.

Jürgen Henschel worked for Die Wahrheit, the newspaper of the Socialist Unity Party of West Berlin (SEW). His photographs document political, social and cultural life in West Berlin. He made an important contribution to German photojournalism.

Veronika Hitpaß moved to West Berlin to study sociology. She was politically active and involved in youth work. She later worked as a teacher.

»It was worth it. Now the Topography of Terror is located there.«

How did you get involved?

I was there because Jürgen Karwelat took me along. Jürgen was one of the organisers.

What in particular do you remember?

The dig was something special. It was a different kind of action.

What do you think of the action today?

It was worth it. Now the Topography of Terror is located there.

»We were totally surprised that Gestapo cellars were actually uncovered at the site.«

Jürgen Karwelat joined the Berlin History Workshop in 1983. At the time of the dig, he was working as a lawyer at the Federal Cartel Office. He later transferred to different federal ministries. He is still involved in the Berlin History Workshop today.

How did you get involved?

I had organised a memorial service on the barren grounds a few years earlier to commemorate the end of World War II. So I was on board right away when the Active Museum approached us about doing something there to mark the perpetrator site.

What in particular do you remember?

I was the organiser of the event and hadn’t told the police or the Senate Administration that not only were we going to read a text, but that we also planned to do some actual digging.

Fortunately, the police, who observed the event from a distance, didn’t approach me about this during the action.

What do you think of the action today?

It was very successful. We were totally surprised that cellars of the Gestapo headquarters were actually uncovered a few months later at the very site where we had dug symbolically.

With this action, we gave an important boost to the Topography of Terror Documentation Centre.

Jutta Kausch-Henken is an actress, cabaret performer and peace activist. During the digging action she read a section of the manuscript aloud with three other people.

In the 1980s, Georg Kowalski was chairman of the Socialist Unity Party of West Berlin (SEW) in Kreuzberg and a member of the Association of Victims of the Nazi Regime - Federation of Anti-Fascists (VVN-VdA). He continues to participate in various events organised by the Active Museum.

Bernhard Müller is a member of the Berlin History Workshop. Trained as an industrial clerk and accountant, he later studied history and organized exhibitions on historical topics.

Kurt Schilde, a native of Berlin, completed his sociology degree in 1981 and worked for the Tempelhof district office. He transferred to the district museum in the late 1980s. Later, he worked on research projects about National Socialism for other Berlin institutions.

Heinz-Dieter Schilling is a religious educator, lecturer and publicist. When the Active Museum was founded in June 1983, he was elected deputy chairman. He also managed the association’s office from 1983 to 1986.

»Fun digging, a sense of responsibility, enjoy contradicting the Senate.«

Art historian Eckhard Siepmann is co-founder of the alternative publishing house Elefanten Press. He ran the Werkbund Archive – the museum of 20th-century everyday culture in Berlin – from 1976 to 1995.

How did you get involved?

Fun digging, a sense of responsibility, enjoy contradicting the Senate.

What in particular do you remember?

The ladies Weißler and Fischer-Defoy.

What do you think of the action today?

Something to be proud of...

Hans Peter Stiebing was a photographer and editor at the Taz newspaper. He also took photographs in East Berlin and documented the fall of the Wall in November 1989. His photos capture life in divided Berlin and show the two halves of the city growing back together after 1989.

Fritz Teppich fought against Franco in the Spanish Civil War and did not return to Germany until 1946. A committed communist, he lived in West Berlin and worked for the GDR news agency ADN. He worked tirelessly against fascism and in the West Berlin peace movement.

»We wanted the historical truth to enter the public consciousness.«

Hans Tödtmann is an engineer and architect. He works as a research assistant for housing and urban planning at the Technical University of Berlin.

How did you get involved?

I was aware of the historical significance of the Gestapo site. My friend Christa Jancik told me about the action.

What in particular do you remember?

I hardly knew any of the participants at the time apart from Udo Gößwald. The action was symbolic, of course. A shovel could barely make a dent in the debris-covered ground.

What do you think of the action today?

The action drew public attention to the historical significance of the Gestapo site. The grounds were still being used inappropriately in 1985.

The participants showed that people from different social backgrounds wanted the historical truth to enter the public consciousness.

»The motto ‘Dig where you are stand’ had never before been used in Berlin in such a political way.«

Sabine Weißler was a founding member and deputy chairwoman of the Active Museum. She represented the Alternative List for Democracy and Environmental Protection (AL) in the Berlin House of Representatives from 1989 to 1991. Later she ran the culture and library office in Steglitz-Zehlendorf and became city councillor for culture in Mitte.

How did you get involved?

I was a founding member of the Active Museum of Fascism and Resistance and, in my function as a cultural politician for the Alternative List, I was also a member of the jury for the redesign of the site of the former SS Reich Security Main Office.

The jury had lengthy discussions about whether remnants of the building existed. During one meeting, it was announced that the building had been demolished down to the cellar’s ceiling. This suggested that parts of the cellar must still exist. Then nothing happened for a time.

The Active Museum took the initiative and created an appeal for the symbolic digging action, which I organised with other members. This was long before desktop publishing; you can still see my sloppy handwriting on the flyer.

The day was exciting. We stood there and didn’t know where to start. I had seen enough photos to be able to estimate the distance to the Gropius Building. We struggled to dig through the fine debris, but by the end, we had left a visible mark.

We later realized that the estimate had been surprisingly accurate. If we had actually hit the floor slab, I would have fainted.

What in particular do you remember?

The large turnout. It wasn’t just friends who came to participate. There were also people from the area who had heard about it and thought that searching for traces was important.

What do you think of the action today?

The motto of the history workshops, »Dig where you stand«, had never before been used in Berlin in such a political way. It wasn’t about the ruins of a monastery church or a city wall. The action ultimately led to the discovery of cellar remains and the marking of the entire site.

After this action, alliances had formed and the site had garnered a lot of attention from the exhibit »Der umschwiegene Ort« at the New Society for Fine Arts, which meant the site’s significance could no longer be ignored.

The action was not popular. To this day, officials do not mention these grassroots origins at dedications or events relating to this site. On official occasions, they present the exhibition marking Berlin’s 750th anniversary as the beginning. But that wasn’t until much later.

»I found it scandalous how the city of Berlin had dealt with the site.«

Christiane Zieseke studied art history. She was involved in the Alternative List for Democracy and Environmental Protection (AL) and the New Society for Fine Arts, where she became managing director in 1987. She joined the board of the Active Museum in 1985.

How did you get involved?

I was a member of the association’s board and had been involved with the site for some time, including in connection with rebuilding the Gropius Building. I found it scandalous how the city of Berlin – the mayor in particular – had dealt with the site.

What in particular do you remember?

There really wasn’t much to see. But the press response was remarkable.

What do you think of the action today?

It was much more effective than I had thought it would be. It was the beginning of serious public engagement with this history.

The archive of the Berlin History Workshop contains two invitations to the event on May 5, 1985. Unfortunately, we do not know how exactly the invitations were distributed. One invitation includes a map and hints at an excavation. Copyright: Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

On April 2, 1985, Jürgen Karwelat from the Berlin History Workshop registered a public assembly for May 5, 1985, mentioning the reading of a text collage. The police responded on April 18, 1985, and sent an information sheet with guidelines for public gatherings. Copyright: Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

On April 22, 1985, Jürgen Karwelat of the Berlin History Workshop wrote to the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which forwarded the letter to the Senate Department for Cultural Affairs. On May 2, 1985, Jürgen Karwelat received instructions to be observed. Copyright: Berliner Geschichtswerkstatt e.V.

The »Tagesspiegel« provides information about a planned »commemorative event«. The announcement makes no mention of a symbolic excavation.

Erinnerung an Naziopfer am früheren Prinz-Albrecht-Palais, in: Der Tagesspiegel, Sonntag, 5. Mai 1985, Nr. 12043, S. 14.

The »taz« discusses the symbolic excavation within the broader context of memory politics and states: »The action did not follow the spirit of the times«.

Bild und Bericht, in: Die Tageszeitung (Ausgabe West-Berlin), Montag, 6. Mai 1985, Nr. 1602, S. 23.

»The Wahrheit« reports that »a symbolic excavation had begun« and places the action within the debates about a memorial at the site.

Symbolische Ausgrabung der Folterkeller der Gestapo. Deutliches Zeichen gegen das Vergessen gesetzt, in: Die Wahrheit. Sozialistische Tageszeitung Westberlins, Montag, 6. Mai 1985, Nr. 103, S. 10.

The filmmaker and photographer Riki Kalbe (1941-2002) released the film “Bodenproben” in 1987. It features rare footage of the site and its immediate surroundings from the mid-1980s. The first three minutes of the film are shown.

Copyright: arsenal institut für film und videokunst e.V.

Sharing memories at the historic site: video-interview 2025

This video presents a conversation with Sabine Weißler, Udo Gößwald, and Jürgen Karwelat, three participants in the symbolic excavation campaign "1933-1945 Nachgegraben". In the spring of 2025, they reflect on the origins, challenges, and significance of the action – standing at the very place where, 40 years earlier, they made their mark: the grounds of what is now the Topography of Terror.