Olympiastadion in Berlin is one of the most iconic and historic sports complexes in the world.
The original project called for the construction of a national stadium. In just 200 days, this impressive project for its time was completed and inaugurated on 8thJune 1913.
With the outbreak of World War I, the 1916 Olympic Games in Berlin were canceled, and the stadium was converted into a military hospital.
In 1920, the facility returned to its original sporting function, hosting football matches and athletics competitions.
With the awarding of the 1936 Olympic Games to Berlin, the Nazi regime saw this as an opportunity to create a monument to its greatness.
Unlike many Olympic stadiums, the stands did not form a closed ring, but opened up at the Marathon Gate, where the Olympic pyre and the 77-meter-high Campanile were located.
During World War II, the Olympiastadion was transformed into an air raid shelter and a secret weapons factory. The stadium escaped the bombings almost unscathed, losing only the bell tower.
After the war, the stadium came under the control of British forces. After extensive renovations, the facility gradually returned to its original sporting function. The name “Reichssportfeld” was changed to “Olympiastadion,” an attempt to erase the facility’s Nazi past.
Following the awarding of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the stadium was completely renovated with the addition of a modern roof.
Today, it is the home of the Hertha Berlin football club and regularly hosts major international events, concerts, and the German Cup final (DFB-Pokal).
