Berlin Sportpalast facts for kids
The Berlin Sportpalast was a large indoor building in Berlin, Germany. It was built in 1910 and torn down in 1973. This building was like a big sports and event hall, able to hold up to 14,000 people! For a while, it was the biggest meeting place in Berlin. The Sportpalast is most famous for the important speeches and gatherings that happened there, especially during the time of Nazi Germany. One of the most well-known events was a speech given by Joseph Goebbels, a leader in the Nazi government, in 1943. He called it the "Total War" speech.
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Building Berlin's Big Sports Palace
The Sportpalast was built at Potsdamer Straße 172. It was first designed to be a huge indoor ice rink for ice hockey and ice skating. When it opened in November 1910, it was a really exciting new place. At that time, it was the largest indoor skating facility in the whole world!
Sports and Fun Events
Over the years, the Sportpalast hosted many different kinds of events. Besides ice sports, it became famous for exciting six-day bicycle races. It also held professional boxing matches, where famous German boxers like Max Schmeling fought.
The Sportpalast wasn't just for sports. It was also a popular place for big meetings and fun festivals. One popular event was the Bockbierfest, a traditional German festival with Bavarian bands, dancing, and delicious roasted food.
A Place for Political Meetings
During the 1920s and early 1930s, a time when Germany was going through many changes, the Sportpalast was used for large political gatherings. Different political groups, including the Social Democrats, Communists, and National Socialists (Nazis), held meetings there. Their leaders would speak to huge crowds about their plans for the country.
The Sportpalast During the Nazi Era
After the Nazi Party took control of Germany in 1933, they made other political parties illegal. The Sportpalast continued to be a very important place for Nazi Party rallies and speeches. Leaders like Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels often spoke there. Goebbels even called the hall "our big political grandstand" because of its size and how useful it was for spreading their messages.
Important Speeches and Historical Moments
One significant event was Hitler's "Winterhilfe" speech on September 4, 1940. In this speech, he announced a change in strategy, saying that British cities would be bombed instead of just military targets. This marked the beginning of the London Blitz, a period of intense bombing of British cities.
The most famous Nazi speech at the Sportpalast was Goebbels's "Total War" speech on February 18, 1943. This happened shortly after a major German defeat in the Battle of Stalingrad. In his speech, Goebbels tried to inspire the German people to support the war even more, as the war was starting to go badly for Germany.
After the War: Rebuilding and Rock Concerts
When World War II ended in 1945, the Sportpalast was badly damaged. Its roof was destroyed. It took several years to repair, finally reopening for ice sports in 1951. However, it was still very cold inside because the roof was not fully enclosed yet. A new roof was built later, and the building fully reopened in 1953.
New Life in West Berlin
After the war, Berlin was divided into East and West during the Cold War. The Sportpalast was located in West Berlin. It was no longer the city's main meeting hall, but it still hosted many different events. Famous figure skater Sonja Henie performed there.
In its later years, the Sportpalast became a popular venue for rock concerts. Many legendary artists and bands played there, including Bill Haley, Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, The Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, The Nice, and The Mothers of Invention.
The End of an Era
By the 1970s, it became too expensive to keep the Sportpalast running. It closed its doors in 1973 and was eventually torn down. In its place, a large apartment complex was built, which people sometimes called the "Sozialpalast" – meaning "social housing palace."
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See also
In Spanish: Berliner Sportpalast para niños
