Lecture 1
"Old Reich's Chancellery and Fuhrerwohnung"
9.00 o'clock - Introduction into the Topic
Christoph Neubauer ask the audience about the facts they already know about the building and about the most important questions they want to be answered. He also gives an introduction on the location of the Chancellery and its position in Berlin.
9.30 o'clock - The Construction of the Old Reich Chancellery
An overview of the construction history of the building and the ministerial gardens until 1871 is given followed by details about the most important ministries and their development in Prussia.
10.00 o'clock - Bismarck's lost Battle
In this section of the lecture the first big architectural redevelopment of the ministerial gardens due to the demolishment of the Palais Voss, the redevelopment of its property and the construction of Vossstrasse under the supervision of Georg von Morner is explained.
10.15 o'clock - A Reich's Chancellery for Bismarck
The audience learns how the Old Reich's Chancellery was saved from demolishment by Bismarck and how Georg von Morner converted the Palais into the Reich's Chancellery. Followed by a description of the structural changes made to the building due to the construction work. The use of the different rooms under Bismarck is also explained.
10.30 o'clock - The Reich's Chancellery Becomes
the Palais of the Reich's Chancellor
Christoph Neubauer shows which influence the first extension to the Reich's Chancellery (1928-1930) had on the historic building. He also describes the reconstruction of the Red Saloon and of the first winter garden in detail.
10.45 o'clock - From the Palais of the
Reich's Chancellor to the Fuhrerwohnung
Neubauer describes the changes made to the Old Reich Chancellery by Paul Ludwig Troos in 1934 ordered by Adolf Hitler. Taking a close look on architecture photographs and the construction documents Neubauer shows and describes beside the many rooms of the Old Reich's Chancellery itself also the newly erected diplomats hall and the 2. and 3. winter garden of the Chancellery. A 3D - Film of the interior of the diplomatic hall and the reception hall of the Old Reich's Chancellery offers a unique view on the static of this building section and its equipment.
12.00 o'clock - Lunch Break
13.00 o'clock - Albert Speer Takes Over the Planning
In this section of the lecture Neubauer shows how the Old Reich's Chancellery changed further on due to the changes made by Albert Speer between 1938 and 1939. He shows in detail the 1938 newly erected main entrance, the interior connection to the new Reich's Chancellery as well as the demolishment of the archway in the garden of the Old Reich's Chancellery and the reconstruction of its southwestern wing by Albert Speer in 1939.
13.30 o'clock - The Underground Tunnels
Examining the files of the east German secret service and historic photographs and documents, Neubauer shares his knowledge about the extensive system of underground tunnels which connected the basements of the Old Reich's Chancellery with the Fuhrerbunker, the bunkers of the New Reich's Chancellery, the Ministry of Propaganda and the bunkers and basements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
14.30 o'clock - The Destruction of the Old Reich's Chancellery
Using text - and photo documents Neubauer shows the destruction of the Old Reich's Chancellery which had taken place by bombardments and the battle of Berlin. He answers the question if the building could have been saved and rebuild after the war. Neubauer shows bit by bit the demolishment of the Old Reich's Chancellery and its extensions from 1935. He also answers the question if there are still remains of the Palais in the grounds of Wilhelmstrasse today.
16.00 o'clock - Discussion
A free discussion regarding the topics of the lecture guided by Christoph Neubauer. To answer questions of the audience Neubauer gives access to his archive of more than 14.000 historic photographs and construction files of the Reich's Chancellery and the buildings surrounding her.
17.00 o'clock - End
