Berlin Monuments: Olympic Stadium

For the Olympic Summer Games in 1936, the Olympic Stadium in Charlottenburg was built between 1934 and 1936 according to plans of the architect Werner March.

Although there had been a stadium before that could have been reconstructed and extended, the Cancellor Adolf Hitler ordered the demolition of the old stadium and the construction of a new, much larger one for the reason of propaganda.

Opened on August 1st, 1936, the new Olympic Stadium with a clear geometrical structure follows the example of antique sports facilities. It was built for an audience of 100,000 people.

Due to the fact that part of the stadium is below the ground, it does not appear as enormous as it is. Therefore, Hitler did not agree to call it "Deutsches Stadion" like the stadium that had been there before.

In 1974, part of the Olympic Stadium received a roof for the World Cup. For the World Cup in 2006, the Olympic Stadium was completely reconstructed and modernised.