107-478: Wellblechpalast is the official name of the ice hockey arena in the Sportforum Hohenschönhausen in the locality of Alt-Hohenschönhausen of the borough of Lichtenberg of Berlin , Germany . The arena was built in 1963 and was the home stadium of the ice hockey team of SC Dynamo Berlin and then Eisbären Berlin until the 2007–08 season. The facility still serves as training unit for
214-573: A capacity of between 1,700 and 4,000 spectators depending on the type of event. The large sports hall measures 64 meters in length, 30 meters in width and 15 meters in height inside. Dynamo-Sporthalle therefore allows for several different sports, such as gymnastics , handball , volleyball , judo, boxing , basketball , badminton , table tennis and archery . In the adjoining sports halls, there are further halls for, among other things, volleyball, basketball, judo and fencing, as well as weight lifting rooms and meeting rooms. The Dynamo-Sporthalle
321-565: A motto between two swastikas: “I call the youth of the world” and 11. Olympic Games Berlin inscribed upon it. It was located amongst the tiers of the Maifeld stand, acting as the pinnacle of the Reich Sports Field's western end. An observation deck inside provided views of the city of Berlin. During the games it would be utilized as an observation post for administrators, police officials, doctors, and media officials. The hanging of
428-519: A new site to the west of Berlin by the time they settled upon a site in Ruhleben , where the club would lease land and manage a horse racing track from 1884 until 1893. In 1906 Victor von Podbielski was able to arrange for the "Union-Klub to find another location in the Grunewald. In February 1907, the organization signed a 30-year lease for land north of Döberitzer Heerstraße . This would become
535-556: A previously voiced opposition to renovating the stadium, to a more favorable attitude towards the project on the condition that they were to be compensated for the horse races that would have to be suspended during the construction process. The Ministry of Agriculture then agreed to lease the entire grounds to the Racing Association with the condition that the sub-lease of the stadium by the DRA should be continued. The land east of
642-608: A special position in world sports. There is no other school in the world with as many Olympic medals or participation in Olympic Games, World and European championship titles as well as School World Championships as the SZLB. The SLZB was known as the elite Children and Youth Sports School ( German : Kinder- und Jugendsportschule ) (KJS) "Werner Seelenbinder" during the East German era. Around 20 sports clubs as based in
749-726: A sub-lessee of the City of Berlin. Their second condition was for the Reich to forfeit any claims it had to ownership of the stadium, resigning this right solely to the City of Berlin. This far into their negotiations Adolf Hitler visited the Deutsches Stadion on 5 October 1933, and announced his decision. Hitler was quick in his decision to alter the existing architectural plans for the Olympic venues, as he desired more grand and extravagant venues than those that had been proposed before
856-556: A whole 13,500 spectators to its match against 1. FC Union Berlin on 3 May 1969. BFC Dynamo began playing occasional matches that required floodlights at the larger Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark in Prenzlauer Berg from November 1968. The Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark was the home ground of FC Vorwärts Berlin at the time. However, the stadium became vacant when FC Vorwärts Berlin was relocated to Frankfurt an der Oder on 31 August 1971. BFC Dynamo played its home matches in
963-462: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a Berlin building or structure is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sportforum Hohensch%C3%B6nhausen Sportforum Hohenschönhausen , officially named Sportforum Berlin , is a multi-purpose sports complex in the locality of Alt-Hohenschönhausen of the borough of Lichtenberg in Berlin. The Sportforum
1070-402: Is connected to the entrance building via a tunnel. A large swimming hall with a 50-meter competition pool with eight lanes was completed in north-western part of the sports complex in 1964. The swimming hall was then supplemented by an outdoor swimming pool in 1967. The outdoor swimming pool was given a retractable steel roof structure in 1970. The swimming hall was also supplemented by
1177-647: Is home to eleven state training centres. 800 Berlin state team athletes regularly train in the facility. The facility also houses the School and High-Performance Sports Center Berlin (SLZB), the "House of Athletes" with around 200 rooms to rent, and the Institute for Sports Science of the Humboldt University of Berlin , with approximately 500 students. The SLZB sports school in the Sportforum holds
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#17327804299381284-718: Is now a protected building of cultural importance. The sports complex also includes artworks, such as mural and mosaic artworks by Wolfgang Frankenstein in the foyer of the Dynamo-Sporthalle and foyer of the swimming hall, the copper artwork Sport-Fries by Wolfgang Frankenstein on the facade of the large sports halls complex towards the Konrad-Wolf-Straße and the two sculptures Seated Swimmers ( German : Sitzende Schwimmerinnen ) by Gustav Weidanz and Standing Swimmer ( German : Stehende Schwimmerin ) by Waldemar Grzimek. The Dynamo-Sportforum
1391-480: Is still used as a training facility by the professional team of Eisbären Berlin. It also serves as the home arena of the youth teams of Eisbären Berlin. An uncovered skating rink was completed in 1962 from existing sports fields on the southeast corner of the Dynamo-Sportforum. The speed skating rink was covered with an indoor hall in 1986. The speed skating indoor arena opened on 17 November 1986, as
1498-442: Is the home arena for the handball club VC Olympia Berlin. In addition, national and international sports events of the highest class within a number of different sports take place in the hall up to 230 days per year. The Dynamo-Sporthalle has also been used for other type of events, such as congresses, political mass meetings and balls: An uncovered articial ice rink was completed in the Dynamo-Sportforum in 1958. The ice rink
1605-649: Is the second largest sports complex in Berlin after the Olympiapark . In 1952, the Magistrate of East Berlin donated part of today's Sportforum Hohenschönhausen to the Volkspolizei , who built a large football facility for their athletes on the site. At the time, the sports complex only extended up to the Steffenstraße, opposite today's Sandinostraße. Steffenstraße has since been integrated into
1712-738: The Deutsches Sportforum ( lit. ' German Sport Forum ' ) and the Reichssportfeld ( lit. ' Reich Sports Field ' ), is a sports and entertainment complex located in Berlin , Germany. The complex served as the Olympic Park of the 1936 Summer Olympics . The area in the Grunewald had been promised to the people of Berlin as "a people's park" by Emperor Wilhelm II in 1904. Due to this, when
1819-465: The 1908 Summer Olympics , and had hosted the 10th IOC Conference (where the host for the 1912 Summer Olympics had been voted on) on 27 May 1909. Berlin defeated bids from Alexandria , Egypt ; Amsterdam , Netherlands ; Brussels , Belgium ; Budapest , Hungary ; and Cleveland , United States in the bid for 1916 Summer Olympics. The stadium for this was to be located in Charlottenburg , in
1926-487: The 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup and two home matches in the 1971–72 DDR-Oberliga at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark during the 1971–72 season. However, more matches at the stadium were not possible after the summer of 1972, as the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark was then undergoing extensive renovation for the upcoming 10th World Festival of Youth and Students . BFC Dynamo finished
2033-566: The Grunewald Forest , to the west of Berlin. The government of Germany decided not to build in the nearby Grunewald forest, or to renovate buildings that already existed. Because of this desire, they hired the same architect who originally had built the "Rennverein" (the Grunewald Race Course) Otto March. The organizing committee's evaluation of the site a site led them to decide that the area inside
2140-542: The Union-Klub [ de ] later signed a lease for a horseracing track, they had to agree that their land would also host "general sports functions" A horse race track at Hoppegarten just east outside the city held its first races as early as 1868. The "Union-Klub" was one of the main organizations behind the early development of that site. Due to a loss of spectators, the Union-Klub started looking for
2247-637: The Volkspolizei , who built a large football facility for their athletes on the site. In 1953, the East German Ministry for State Security decided to create a large sports complex in the area. The existing sports field was then converted into a football stadium in 1954, by raising the ground on both long sides for stands. The stadium was built with the help of the National Construction Work ( German : Nationales Aufbauwerk ) (NAW) ( de ). SC Dynamo Berlin played
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#17327804299382354-624: The "Construction Committee for the Reich Sport Field". State Secretary Hans Pfundtner served as the Committee's chairman. 11 October 1933, the proposed construction schedule was submitted to Hitler. 31 October Hitler visited the complex along with Reich Minister of the Interior Wilhelm Frick , approving the plans in principle. Nonetheless, Hitler voiced a number of concerns surrounding the architectural appearance of
2461-970: The "Union Club and the Society for Steeplechasing" to expand the race tracks that the Berlin Racing Association also owned in Hoppegarten and Karlshorst . In November 1933 the Nazi Reich Ministry of Finance established the Stadium Construction Office. Authority over this organization belonged to the Government Construction Counciller Sponzholz. In December 1933 the Minister of the Interior created
2568-536: The 1954–55 season at the Walter-Ulbricht-Stadion in Mitte . The team moved its home matches to the football stadium in the Dynamo-Sportforum for the short transitional 1955 season . The stadium was also called Stadion Steffenstraße at this time. The capacity of the stadium was 8,000 spectators during the 1955 season. SC Dynamo Berlin functionary Günther Purrmann praised the Dynamo-Sportforum after
2675-480: The 1955 season, as it offered all facilities for training, such as good changing rooms, a small canteen and a bright room for theory lessons. But above all, the football stadium offered better contact with the crowd, compared to the very large Walter-Ulbricht-Stadion. Nevertheless, SC Dynamo Berlin returned to the Walter-Ulbricht-Stadion for the 1956 season . SC Dynamo Berlin moved permanently to
2782-657: The 1960s. The highlights were matches against local rivals ASK Vorvärts Berlin , and matches against the various top teams during the period, such as SC Empor Rostock , SC Motor Jena and SC Leipzig . In the late 1960s, the matches against local rival 1. FC Union Berlin drew the largest crowds. SC Dynamo Berlin drew 10,000 spectators to its match against SC Empor Rostock in on 25 March 1962, 9,000 spectators to its match against SC Motor Jena on 9 August 1964 and 10,000 spectators to its match against SC Leipzig on 18 September 1965. BFC Dynamo then drew 12,000 spectators to its match against FC Vorwärts Berlin on 26 February 1966 and
2889-448: The 1960s. The capacity was 10,000 spectators at the start of the 1965–66 season. The northern end towards the ice hockey arena , which was still open, was closed with a relatively flat earth embankment, except for the entrance, in the autumn of 1965. The capacity of the stadium thus increased to 12,000 spectators. At the same time, the large car park next to the Dynamo-Sporthalle was created and snack bars were established. The capacity
2996-424: The 1961–62 season. The Dynamo-Sportforum was still on the outskirts of Berlin in the early 1960s. The sports complex was surrounded by thousands of small gardens. Hohenschönhausen was primarily known as an excursion destination among Berliners. There was only one tram connection to the Dynamo-Sportforum. During the 1955 season, the transport options to the stadium had been poor. The Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum
3103-479: The 1971–72 DDR-Oberliga as runners-up and qualified for the 1972–73 UEFA Cup . However, neither the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark nor the Walter-Ulbricht-Stadion were available for the upcoming UEFA Cup matches. Both were undergoing extensive renovation for the 10th World Festival of Youth and Students. Instead, the Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum underwent a complete transformation in just five weeks between
3210-542: The 1976–77 season. The Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum would rarely be used for larger matches from then. The stadium would mainly be used by the reserve team BFC Dynamo II. BFC Dynamo II had played in the second tier DDR-Liga since the 1968–69 season. The team was transferred to the Next Generation Oberliga ( German : Nachwuchsoberliga ) ( de ) after the 1975–76 season, but returned to the DDR-Liga in
3317-502: The 1984–85 season under coach Werner Voigt . The capacity of the Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum was reduced to 15,000 spectators in 1985. BFC Dynamo returned to the Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum for the 1986–87 season, as the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportspark was going to be completely redeveloped during the season for the 750th anniversary of Berlin. The steel pipe bleechers on the earth embankments along
Wellblechpalast - Misplaced Pages Continue
3424-420: The 8th Party Congress in 1971. The construction of the huge residential area Fennpfuhl , which was the first new large building project of its kind, started in the immediate vicinity of the Dynamo-Sportforum at the end of 1972. The Dynamo-Sportforum was soon surrounded by ten-storey prefabricated buildings . Thousands of people now lived in the vicinity of the stadium. The number of spectators for BFC Dynamo at
3531-435: The Berlin games altogether if March's stadium was not altered to his satisfaction. After being appointed, Speer designed a neo-classical facade for the stadium literally overnight to meet Hitler's satisfaction. Speer's design was used, and clad March's stadium's exposed steel frame with stone. Characteristically of Nazi architecture, Speer's design placed stone pillars and colonnades over steel supports. March aspired to design
3638-667: The DRA's plan. Theodor Lewald rejected the city's plan for a temporary venue. Planning continued. Additional aspects of the project would include the expansion of the Sportforum, finishing the half-completed gymnasium, the construction of a large sporting hall and of a new student dormitory. March's plans for the Olympic Stadium were accepted by the IOC in June 1933. At a meeting of the Construction Committee of
3745-568: The Deutsches Stadion. Beginning in the summer of 1921, a two-story university building was constructed north of the stadium's swimming pool. 26 May 1922, this new building, which included a gymnasium, fencing hall, and a dining and reading room, was opened. In 1925 Theodor Lewald suggested that the complex be named the "Sportforum". 16 September 1925, the board of the German Committee for Physical Training (the DRA) officially began using
3852-469: The Dynamo-Sportforum after the construction of the Berlin Wall began on 13 August 1961. The team played its first match at the football stadium in the Dynamo-Sportforum during the 1961–62 season against BSG Motor Zwickau on the 16th matchday of the 1961–62 DDR-Oberliga on 13 September 1961. The stadium had been expanded since the 1955 season and had a capacity of 10,000 spectators at the start of
3959-625: The Dynamo-Sportforum. The Olympic Training Center Berlin (OSP Berlin) has used the Sportform since the beginning of the 1990s and is now the main user of the facilities. The former sports medicine building of SV Dynamo in the Sportforum has been the headquarters of the OSP Berlin since 1992. More than 300 national team athletes regularly train in the facility. The OSP Berlin is the largest Olympic training center in Germany. The Sportforum
4066-404: The Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum increased in the 1970s. BFC Dynamo drew 14,000 spectators to its match against 1. FC Union Berlin on 26 December 1971, 15,000 spectators to its match against 1. FC Union Berlin on 30 September 1972 and 15,000 spectators to its match against SG Dynamo Dresden on 19 May 1973. An average of 12,000 people attended the last six matches of BFC Dynamo at the stadium in
4173-400: The East German era. It was the headquarter of sports association SV Dynamo and home to sports club SC Dynamo Berlin . The Olympic Training Center Berlin (OSP Berlin) is now the main user of the facilities. Around 20 sports clubs are also based in the Sportforum and more than 3,000 athletes use the facilities every day. The Sportforum Hohenschönhausen is located in the western part of
4280-600: The Eisbären Berlin; it also hosts games of the Eisbären Juniors team, and occasionally games of several other Berlin-based amateur teams. The structure's roof is made up of corrugated iron sheets ("Wellblech" in German). The nickname Wellblechpalast (corrugated roof palace), coined by a journalist during the early 1990s, originally had a pejorative connotation that characterised both the destitute nature of
4387-473: The Grunewald Race Course offered enough room for a suitable venue to be built. Access to this stadium was provided by a tunnel passage under the racetrack. The tunnel was 65 feet wide, and provided access to the south end of the stadium. This tunnel is one of the few surviving portions of the former race track. The stadium was sunk into the ground on inside of the racetrack, so as not to disturb
Wellblechpalast - Misplaced Pages Continue
4494-550: The Gunewald Race Course. The Grunewald Race Course was the original sporting venue on the site now occupied by Olympiapark Berlin. This horse racing venue was designed by Otto March , and opened 3 May 1909. The venue had a capacity of 40,000. Its center contained an 85,000 square meter depression slated to eventually house a stadium. That stadium planned for the center of the racecourse would come only five years later. Plans to build an Olympic sports complex in
4601-457: The IOC in 1931 by Berlin's bid team. "The old race course shall be conveyed to the Reich, which will take over all the Olympic constructions in Grunewald. The Stadium itself is to be enlarged to provide seats for 100,000 persons. A swimming stadium and a riding field shall be built on the Stadium grounds. An assembly field large enough for mass demonstrations shall be provided in connection with
4708-528: The Olympic Bell began Monday, 11 May 1936. The first trial ringing occurred on 20 May. The Olympic Stadium was filled with spectators for the first time on 5 July for a pre-Olympic test. The main focal point of the entire complex's composition was to be the Olympic Stadium , which was located at the middle of the Reich Sport Field. 86,400 square yards (two times the area which was occupied by
4815-512: The Olympics, plans were drawn up to renovate the Deutsches Stadion extensively. The venue only held 30,000 spectators, which by then had become insufficient host the Olympics. The cycling track would be completely eliminated, and the current 650-yard running track would be removed as well and replaced with a new 433-yard track (adhering to the international dimensions). The field would be sunken deeper, and new rows of seats were to be constructed at
4922-687: The Olympischer Platz, parade grounds with the "Führerloge", the Olympic Bell Tower along the east-west axis the Coubertinplatz, and the swimming stadium placed on the north-south axis. Hitler approved plans for complex the same day. In late fall of 1933 demolition work began on the old Deutsches Stadion, and work commenced on the completion of the gymnasium that had been left half-finished since 1928. Construction took place from 1934 to 1936. Complying with Hitler's wishes,
5029-551: The Organizing Committee (for the Olympics) on 15 July 1933, presided over by Carl Diem several aspects were added to the plan. It was decided to complete the gymnasium and include a small swimming pool in its basement. It was also decided that there would be a gymnastic and assembly hall with connected living quarters and a restaurant added to the complex, as well as two small buildings to serve as dressing rooms on
5136-608: The Race Course were to be retained, the stadium's height could not be increased. The need for an expanded Sportforum was furthered on 25 April 1931, when the International Olympic Committee announced Berlin as the host of the 1936 Summer Olympic Games. Berlin was awarded the 1936 Summer Olympics on 26 May 1930. at the 30th IOC Conference, held in Lausanne , Switzerland. After Berlin was awarded
5243-593: The Sportforum Hohenschönhausen. The building complex was erected by the state-owned company VEB Industriebeau Berlin to designs by an architectural collective led by German architect Walter Schmidt. The Dynamo-Sporthalle was also adorned with mural and mosaic artworks by the German artist Wolfgang Frankenstein. The Dynamo-Sporthalle and the adjoining sports halls are today protected buildings of cultural importance. The Dynamo-Sporthalle has
5350-411: The Sportforum and more than 3,000 athletes use the facilities every day. The main users among the sports clubs based in the Sportforum are SC Berlin, Berliner TSC, BFC Dynamo , Eisbären Berlin junior teams and Alba Berlin junior teams . Other users are Füchse Berlin , SSG Humboldt zu Berlin, SC Charlottenburg and SV Preußen Berlin. The first new major sports facility built in the Dynamo-Sportforum
5457-509: The Sportforum were constructed northeast of the stadium. Werner March , son of Otto March, won a contest relating to the construction of the complex, and served as its architect. Werner largely collaborated with brother Walter March on this and other projects he would later work on for the sports complex. The cornerstone of the complex was laid by on 18 October 1925, the anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig . A women's dormitory for students
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#17327804299385564-482: The Weißenseer Weg. The Dynamo-Sportforum was originally located in the former borough of Weißensee . The borough of Weißensee was divided in 1985 and a new borough of Hohenschönhausen was formed. The locality of Hohenschönhausen then became part of the new borough of Hohenschönhausen. The borough of Hohenschönhausen was absorbed by the borough of Lichtenberg in 2001 and the locality of Hohenschönhausen became
5671-527: The area of the Racetrack can be traced as far back as 1906 prior to Germany's athletic participation in the 1906 Intercalated Games . During the 1912 Summer Olympics , the city of Berlin was designated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 1916 Summer Olympics during the 14th IOC Conference which was held in Stockholm on 27 May 1912. Berlin had previously bid unsuccessfully for
5778-415: The bottom of the current stands. Its seating capacity would as a result of this planned renovation been increased from 30,000 to 80,000 spectators. The tunnel entrance at the south end, crossing below the Grunewald Race Course, was a source of congestion during events. Plans were made to relieve this congestion by building a new eastern tunnel, and by a new entrance to the entire complex would be constructed on
5885-419: The building and the Eisbären Berlin ice hockey team, which at the time regularly finished at the bottom of the standings. However, the name stuck and assumed a cult status among the club's fans. The arena accommodates 4,695 people; the seating capacity is 1,600, with 3,095 standing on the terraces. On 7 October 2001, it was officially renamed to Wellblechpalast. This article about a German sports venue
5992-479: The buildings, and his wishes for stone to be used in the construction of the complex as frequently as possible, rather than concrete. On 14 December 1933, Hitler had the March brothers called into his office, and decided to have them create a third design for an Olympic Stadium. This is the plan that was used, and contained not only the Olympic Stadium that would be built, but also other elements that were built such as
6099-419: The complex. Eventually, in the course of these studies, it was realized that Deutsches Stadium's infield was too large, leading to poor sightlines, and its maximum capacity of 40,000 spectators was deemed to be too small to serve as an Olympic Stadium if Berlin, as was being considered, were to host the Olympics in 1936. The reason the stadium could not be expanded beyond 40,000 due to the Grunewald Race Course. If
6206-432: The complex. This would provide the entire complex with a stricter symmetry, and thus was the option favored by Hitler. The Berlin Racing Association was made to vacate their use of the complex, as the Grunewald Race Course was to be demolished to create the Reich Sports Field. The Berlin Racing Association were to be compensated according to Hitler's orders, by receiving the funding from the "Racing Association" as well as
6313-427: The demolition of the swimming stadium, to replace the dilapidated wooden benches at the football stadium . The swimming facilities were extensively refurbished in the 2000s. The swimming machine was renovated and brought up to its current high-tech level in 2001, at a cost of 1.75 million Euros. The large swimming hall was also renovated from 2005 and onwards, for a cost of 12–13.5 million Euros. The renovation of
6420-415: The earlier proposed expansion to the Sportforum had previously been set to commence, those plans were killed. Werner March had been commissioned to create sketches for the new "Reichssportfeld" on 5 October 1933, the very same day that Hitler had announced his intentions to build it. Dr. Diem was called-in from a trip abroad to work on the project's proposals with Werner March. The main outline of their plans
6527-476: The earth embankments along the long sides. All these measures increased the capacity to 20,000 spectators, of which 7,500 were seated. A total of 6,000 cubic meters of soil was moved for the transformation of the stadium. The redevelopment was made possible, among other things, by numerous voluntary work assignments from Free German Youth ( German : Freie Deutsche Jugend ) (FDJ) groups and members of SV Dynamo. The current grandstand and office building at
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#17327804299386634-426: The end of July 1972 and September 1972. The flat terraces on the side opposite the main stand and on the two curved ends were substantially raised, the exit in the curved end towards the Weißenseer Weg was closed and the old office building at the main stand was demolished. A new 500-seat grandstand and a more spacious 35-metre office building were built at the main stand. Bleechers made of steel pipes were also built on
6741-537: The enlargement of the Stadium. A large open-air theatre shall be erected in the charming Murellen Valley in the northwest part of the Stadium grounds. The German Sport Forum shall be completed through the enlargement of the gymnasium, the erection of a new indoor swimming pool, a dormitory, and above all, through the erection of a large administration and instruction building, the House of German Sport." — Adolf Hitler, October 5, 1933 Thus, four days after construction on
6848-518: The first covered speed skating oval in the world, a year prior to the Thialf in Heerenveen . The speed skating arena has a capacity of 3,966 spectators, of which 1,996 are seated and 1,970 standing. The speed skating oval has a 400 × 11 meters standard track and a smaller 262 × 7 meters training track. The speed skating oval also has an inner 60 × 30 meters ice rink. This smaller ice rink
6955-666: The holy olive tree that had blessed the Ancient Olympic Games in Olympia . The oak was named the "Podbielski-Eiche" after the State Minister. Organization continued despite the onset of World War I in 1914, since it was not expected that the war would continue for long enough to interrupt the games. Eventually, though, the Games were cancelled due to the war. The stadium was closed on 26 July 1914, and by 1915
7062-422: The ice hockey team of SC Dynamo Berlin during the East German era. The ice hockey department of SC Dynamo Berlin became ice hockey club EHC Dynamo Berlin in 1990. The club was then renamed EHC Eisbären Berlin in 1992. The Wellblechpalast served as the home arena to Eisbären Berlin until 2008. The ice hockey arena has a capacity for 4,695 spectators, of which 3,112 are standing and 1,357 are seated. The arena
7169-543: The locality of Alt-Hohenschönhausen of the borough of Lichtenberg in Berlin. It is bordered on the north by an industrial area (on which, among other establishments, the Berliner-Kindl-Schultheiss-Brauerei is located), on the east by the St. Andrew and St. Mark's Cemetery ( German : Friedhof der St. Andreas – und St. Markusgemeinde ), on the south by the Konrad-Wolf-Straße and on the west by
7276-400: The locality of Alt-Hohenschönhausen at the same time. The Sportforum Hohenschönhausen covers an area between 45 and 50 hectares, and comprises 35 sports facilities, including three ice rinks, two athletics halls, a football stadium, as well as eight other halls and open spaces for athletics, swimming, handball, volleyball, judo, fencing, archery, beach volleyball and football. The Sportforum
7383-500: The long sides had long since disappeared and had not been rebuilt. BFC Dynamo played its 1986–87 European Cup matches against Örgryte IS and Brøndby IF at the stadium. The match against Örgryte IS in the First round on 1 October 1986 was attended by 15,000 spectators at the Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum. BFC Dynamo then returned to the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark for the 1987–88 season. Olympiapark Berlin Olympiapark Berlin (German for Berlin Olympic Park ), previously
7490-566: The main stand dates from this time. BFC Dynamo played all four home matches in the 1972–73 UEFA Cup at the Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum. The match against Liverpool F.C. in the Round of 16 on 29 November 1972 was attended by 20,000 spectators. The attendance is still a record attendance for the stadium. BFC Dynamo then remained at the Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum for a couple more seasons. The surroundings around Dynamo-Sportform had now changed dramatically. The ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED) had decided on an housing construction program at
7597-471: The majority of the project, though Hitler ultimately replaced him with Albert Speer as the stadium's architect. March's stadium was modern in its aesthetics, which did not match the Nazi's goal to use the Olympics to display themselves as an imperial power in the mold of the Roman Empire . March's design lacked the monumental scale and neo-classical architecture that were the core values of Nazi architecture . Hitler allegedly had even threatened to cancel
7704-572: The name "Deutsches Sportforum" (German: German Sportforum ) for the complex. The stadium was outgrown the by German Institute for Physical Education. The DRA, which before WWI had been the "National Committee for the Olympic Games" (Germany's NOC ), supplemented the stadium's facilities by building the "Deutsches Sportforum" complex, alternately referred to as the "Deutsches Sportsforum" (German: German Sports Forum ). The facilities were largely dedicated to educating physical education teachers, as well as to studying sport science . The buildings of
7811-424: The northern portion of the park, to unite it with the surrounding natural landscape. Access to the site was significantly improved through the creation of new roadways. The complex was already a short distance north of Heerstrasse , the primary east-west thoroughfare out of the city. Friedrich-Friesen-Allee , one of two streets that had served the site, was widened. A new street was built, creating an approach from
7918-487: The onslaught of the Great Depression, Werner March had made a design for the renovation of the Deutsches Stadion into a venue with a 65,000-person capacity as a part of revived plans to hopefully host the Olympic Games in Berlin. The training fields and training halls of the complex received great usage. Studies were undertaken for the complex's expansion in 1928, after work had halted on the existing portions of
8025-411: The pool to a location inside the stadium between the outer edge of the new running track and the stands, either on the west or east side of the stadium. Werner March than decided against this direct union, and instead located a swimming stadium outside the stadium, at a 90-degree angle to its longitudinal axis. It was to be at the same level of the outside gallery of the Olympic Stadium, and half as high as
8132-561: The project, assisted by his brother Walter March. The games had been awarded to Berlin in 1931 when Germany's government was the democratic Weimar Republic and the original plans for the Sportforum had been drawn up under this government. Construction on the proposed expansion of the Sportforum was set to commence in October 1933, but in March of that same year the Nazis had come to power in Germany. The German Committee for Physical Training
8239-408: The racecourse was made available for building the planned tunnel. In January 1932, the City of Berlin put forth a surprise counter plan. The City's Municipal Construction Councilor Wagnar made the suggestion that a temporary wooden stadium instead should be built on the fair grounds for the Olympics. This plan was favored by the city because it did not want to pay for roadway expenses necessitated by
8346-463: The second half of the 1973–74 season. A whole 19,000 spectators watched the match between BFC Dynamo and 1. FC Magdeburg at the Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum on 8 March 1975. BFC Dynamo eventually moved its home matches to the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark for the 1975–76 season, due to upcoming repair work at the Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum. The move was meant to be temporary, but eventually became permanent. The repair work continued also during
8453-449: The side facing the main city-center, which was only 5 miles to the east of the complex. The stadium's expansion was to be of a modern steel and reinforced concrete structure. One unique and appealing aspect of the original stadium had been the inclusion of a swimming pool. In the plans to renovate the stadium, attempts were made to retain the union between the swimming pool and the athletic stadium. Initially, plans were considered to move
8560-550: The site were expanded, with new exits built allowing visitors to leave in close proximity to the Olympic Stadium. Semicircular parking lots were constructed in at the south of the Reich Sport Field within the greenbelt surrounding the grounds. The Olympic Bell contained within the 77-meter Olympic Bell Tower featured the Olympic Rings with an eagle, the year 1936, the Brandenburg Gate, the date 1–16 August, and
8667-532: The sports complex. In 1953, the Ministry for State Security decided to create a large sports complex in the area. The sports association SV Dynamo was officially founded at the same time. SV Dynamo was the new sports association of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry for State Security. An architectural competition was held in 1953 for the construction of the new sports complex. The competition
8774-439: The stadium in the ground ("Erdstadion", in German). On 8 June 1913 the stadium was dedicated with the release of 10,000 pigeons. 60,000 people were in attendance. The stadium contained a 650-foot running track surrounded by a 720-yard cycling track . A 108-yard swimming pool was located on the outer edge of the cycling tack. The stadium also was alternatively known by the names Grunewaldstadion and Berlin Stadium . The stadium
8881-441: The stadium was being used as a military hospital. It would be a year until sports would again take place in the stadium. 15 May 1920 the "Deutsche Hochschule für Leibesübungen" (German: German University for Athletics ) (DHfL) was founded by Berlin's Friedrich-Wilhelms-University . This sports institution was also referred to alternately as the "German Institute for Physical Education". The German University for Athletics used
8988-555: The stadium's construction. The first was that the entire area of the Grunewald Racecourse, the including the Grunewald Racecourse's stadium, which had previously been leased to the Berlin Racing Association, would now be leased directly by the city for a minimum of 30 years by the Prussian Forestry Department (who were the owners of the land). As a result, the Racing Association would then become
9095-406: The stadiums stands) surrounding the stadium were left open, serving as public promenades around the stadium. Werner March had been proud of the fact that spectators could empty the Olympic Stadium in thirteen and a half minutes, as compared to the previous Summer Olympic Stadium (Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum), which would take fifteen and a half minutes to empty. March was the stadium's architect for
9202-467: The stadiums were largely built using natural stone instead of concrete, requiring 39,538 cubic yards of stone. Demolition of the horse race track began in March 1934. Werner March preserved much of the woods on the slopes on all sides of the complex. A significant portion of the land was untouched woods and meadows. Despite a long history of use on the site, the majority of the Olympic Park's land
9309-545: The stands of the stadium, placing the swimming venue in-line with the stadium's entrance. An enclosed arcade was thereafter added to the plans as well. A model of these plans was publicly displayed at the German Building Exhibition in July 1931. The plan received approval from sport governing bodies. The DRA began discussions to execute the plans. The Berlin Racing Association had changed their stance from
9416-481: The swimming hall was completed in 2007. The swimming hall is now one of the most modern in Europe. The entire swimming complex covers 4,500 square meters in total. A sports field has existed on the site of the current football stadium since the 1920s. The history of the current football stadium then began in the 1950s. In 1952, the Magistrate of East Berlin donated part of today's Sportforum Hohenschönhausen to
9523-428: The track field. Construction was set to begin at the beginning of October 1933. When the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, they decided to use the Olympic Games in 1936 for propaganda purposes. With this in mind, Hitler made plans for the construction of a great sports complex in Grunewald named the "Reichssportfeld", with a brand-new Olympiastadion as its centerpiece. Architect Werner March remained in charge of
9630-633: The view of the racing action. The Berlin Racing Association contributed a piece of land on the northern end of the Grunewald for the stadium. The land had been originally rented by the Racing Association from the Forest Department. Work on the stadium, the Deutsches Stadion (German: German Stadium ), began in August 1912. When it opened, it held over 18,500 spectators, and had a seating capacity of 11,500. March decided to bury
9737-602: The west. This road branched off from Heerstrasse and terminated in front of the location of the Olympic Bell Tower. An approach from the east was also established by extending the Schwarzburg Allee, which was thereafter renamed as Olympische Strasse . This street crossed railway tracks over a wide bridge, and then led into the Olympic Square. The Underground and Municipal railway stations serving
9844-418: The world's first swimming machine in 1976. The swimming machine was built in an adjoining building. It was shrouded in mystery and subject to the greatest secrecy during the East German era. The outdoor swimming pool was decommissioned in 1999. The building was transformed into a provisional archery hall in 2001. Supporters of BFC Dynamo subsequently used the bucket seats that had been left over from
9951-473: Was also known as the Dynamo-Sportforum during the East German era. Sportforum Hohenschönhausen covers an area between 45 and 50 hectares, and comprises 35 sports facilities, including three ice rinks, two athletics halls, a football stadium, as well as eight other halls and open spaces for various sports. Development of the Dynamo-Sportforum began in 1954. The original building ensemble, which
10058-400: Was built as a training center for elite sport. It was used by top athletes and future Olympic medalists of East Germany. The sports club SC Dynamo Berlin , with its many sports, disciplines and squads, was the main user of sports forum for decades. The Central Management Office ( German : Büro der Zentralen Leitung ) (BdZL) of the sports association SV Dynamo also had its offices in
10165-424: Was built in individual sections from 1955 to 1960 based on designs by an architectural collective led by Walter Schmidt, is a protected building of cultural heritage. Expansion of the Sportforum continued into the 1980s. The complex is the second largest sports complex in Berlin after the Olympiapark . The Dynamo-Sportforum was a training center where top athletes and future Olympic medalists trained during
10272-439: Was carried out by the state-owned company VEB Industriebau Berlin for the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry for State Security of East Germany . The sports complex was then expanded according to requirements by the adding of additional facilities. Expansion continued well into the 1980s: The original building ensemble, that was built from 1955 to 1960 to designs by the architectural collective led by Walter Schmidt,
10379-402: Was completely free of any existing buildings, with the existing buildings of the Sportforum in the far north end of the complex constituting exception to this. The north end's arrangement was largely governed by its existing structures. In other areas of the park, March desired to preserve much of the natural landscape. March had Professor Wiepking-Jürgensman assist in transplanting 40,000 trees to
10486-457: Was constructed at the northwest end of the grounds. A tunnel beneath the cycling track connected the stadium with the northern portion of the complex, which allowed the stadium's track and the new running track to both be used for competition and practice respectively. A planned gymnasium had begun construction in 1926, but was only half complete when the entire project was halted in 1928 due to insufficient funds to continue construction. Prior to
10593-475: Was created hastily, and received Hitler's approval. The question arose whether or not the new stadium for the Olympics should be built on the footprint of the original Deutsches Stadium, providing it with a direct connection to its predecessor, or instead located 162 yards east of it. Moving east would align it on a direct axis with the Schwarzburg Bridge along the main east-west street approaching
10700-462: Was dissolved, and the deed to the Sportforum was transferred to the Nazi government. Around this time the complex was renamed the "Reichssportfeld" (German: Reich Sports Field ). It was questioned whether the construction and half of the cost for the stadium (with the other half being paid for by the national government in the form of subsidies) should fall onto the City of Berlin. The city already
10807-542: Was going to pay for the construction of the approach roads to the Olympic Stadium, this expense was the main reason they had hoped to place a temporary stadium elsewhere in January 1932, and the expense of leasing land from the Prussian Forestry Department for use as parking lots to serve the Stadium. The City of Berlin named the conditions under which they would assume the additional expenditure of
10914-408: Was inaugurated 15 May 1913, following a mere 200-day construction schedule. The opening ceremony of the stadium occurred 8 June 1913. Otto March had died April of that year, thus he was unable to see the opening of the stadium. One unique facet of the venue was a large oak located just outside the eastern edge of the stadium. Otto March made the decision to leave the oak. It was a decision inspired by
11021-476: Was refurbished for the first match of SC Dynamo Berlin at the stadium at the beginning of the 1961–62 season. The stadium was repainted and flowers were planted all around. Transport connections to the stadium were also improved for the 1961–62 season. Special shuttle buses were arranged from the S-Bahn stations Leninallee and Stalinallee , as well as from Antonplatz. The stadium was gradually expanded during
11128-427: Was the Dynamo-Sporthalle on Weißenseer Weg at the western end of the sports complex. The sports hall was built between 1955 and 1958. The Dynamo-Sporthalle was then supplemented with adjoining sports halls for judo , fencing and ball sports in the north. The adjoining sports halls were built between 1957 and 1960. The Dynamo-Sporthalle and the adjoining sports halls form part of the original building ensemble of
11235-434: Was then covered with a simple roof and transformed into an ice hockey arena in 1963. The ice hockey arena came to be known colloquially as "The Corrugated Palace" ( German : Wellblechpalast ) for its corrugated roof. The name was initially coined by a journalist after Die Wende , but eventually became popular. The stadium was officially named Wellblechpalast in 2001. The ice hockey arena served as home arena of
11342-490: Was then further expanded to 14,000 spectators in 1968. The stadium had a total capacity of 14,000 spectators at the start of the 1969–70 season, of which 5,000 were seated and 9,000 standing. The clubhouse of BFC Dynamo, the "BFC-Casino", was then opened in the Dynamo-Sportforum in August 1969. The team drew average attendances between 3,000 and 6,000 spectators in the DDR-Oberliga at the Dynamo-Stadion im Sportforum in
11449-506: Was won by an architectural collective led by Walter Schmidt. Development of the Dynamo-Sportforum began in 1954: The first new major sports facility was the Dynamo-Sporthalle on Weißenseer Weg. The large sports hall was completed in 1958. The Dynamo-Sporthalle was then supplemented with adjoining sports halls for judo, fencing and ball sports to the north. The adjoining sports halls were completed in 1960. Construction
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