Even though the open-air stage was built in the sense of a Thing site, it was never called that. On the one hand, because the Nazi regime had already distanced itself from the Thing movement, on the other hand, the one in Berlin was planned as one of three elements of the Berlin “Reichssportfeld” next to the Olympic Stadium and the Maifeld within the framework of the 1936 Summer Olympics. One did not want to provoke any international problems, especially with this prestigious project.[1]
Construction begin/Inauguration
1934/ Aug 2nd 1936
Architect : Werner March, Berlin
Historical Description/Present Day
Dietrich-Eckart-Bühne[2] / Waldbühne[3]
Historical Use
| 02.08.1936 zur Einweihungsfeier | „Frankenburger Würfelspiel“ by E.W. Möller |
| August 1936 at the Olympic Summer Games (2 performances) | Dance Play with moving choir : „Olympische Jugend“ by Carl Diem |
| August 1936 at the Olympic Summer Games (multiple performances) | „Herakles“ by G. F. Händel, directed by Hans Niedecken- Gebhard |
| August 1936 at the Olympic Summer Games | Moving choir: „Vom Tauwind und der neuen Freude“ |
| Aug 15. – 19.1937 for the 700th Centenary of Berlin (2 performances) | „Herakles“ by G. F. Händel |
| Aug 15. – 19.1937 for the 700th Centenary of Berlin | „Orpheus und Eurydike“ by C. W. Gluck |
Current Use
Numerous Events: Concerts, Stage shows, Film shows, Live broadcasts of Football league games etc.
https://www.waldbuehne-berlin.de
Useful information
The final dimensions of the amplification system exceeded those of the Heidelberg Thingstätte by far. According to the local source it was possible to connect over 60 microphones, which transmitted the sound to 10 loudspeakers. There was also the possibility of broadcasting via the radio network. In the same way it could be linked to the loudspeaker system of the nearby May Day Parade Ground and the Olympic Stadium, making it possible to reach a potential audience of 500.000 people simultaneously.[5]
chzeitig erreichen konnte.[5]
[1] Stommer, Rainer, Die inszenierte Volksgemeinschaft, Jonas- Verlag Marburg, 1985, p. 207, insb. p. 134 ff.
[2] Stommer, 1985, p. 207
[3] Link „contemporary use“
[4] Stommer, 1985, p. 142 and p. 207
[5] Stommer, 1985, p. 135