From Hildburg Bruns
You knew he existed. Just not where. The escape tunnel from the Wall era has now been discovered in a new building project by the central housing association (WBM) at Bernauer Strasse 26.
It is only 50 cm wide, 70 cm high. So pretty tight. He wasn’t found until early June. “The existence was basically known. However, geophysical investigations had assumed the location to be much lower,” according to the State Monuments Office.
When the Wall was being built, Bernauer Strasse was the focal point of the division – desperate residents jumped out of their windows and secretly dug underground escape routes.
“We have decided not to destroy the tunnel or to fill it with concrete,” says WBM spokesman Matthias Borowski (49) to the BZ. It is now being filled with liquid earth. Boreholes can be seen in the excavation pit. The tunnel is currently being examined with cameras.
WBM boss Steffen Helbig (49) looks at the boreholes for the tunnel under the floor slab Photo: Christian Lohse
Building Senator Christian Gaebler (58, SPD) welcomes the fact that the former border strip is being built on again: “It’s right to bring life to Bernauer Strasse and not just create a memorial.”
The construction project, which fills one of the last three gaps: 87 apartments with photovoltaics on the roof can be occupied in 2024 – 27 social apartments cost from 6.80 euros/sqm, the others around 16 euros/sqm. The cornerstone was laid on Friday.
The new buildings on Bernauer Strasse will have shops on the ground floor. The 78 apartments are 35 to 100 square meters (1-4 rooms) Photo: WBM
All the new buildings on Bernauer Strasse look like they belong to the same family: brick facades and small projections and recesses. “Behind it, the old patrol path is also preserved,” says Mitte’s city councilor for construction, Ephraim Gothe (59, SPD).