Wilhelmstraße, the “evil street” of the Nazi era in Berlin, Germany.

Until 1945, Wilhelmstraße was the site of the administrative centre of Berlin. Very little, if any, of the original buildings remain today, since it was heavily bombed by the Allies during World War II (and what remained was then destroyed by the GDR).

Photo 1 : A photo of the Wilhelmstraße street sign at Leipzigerstraße. You can see some of the ultra-modern buildings behind it.

Photo 2 : Part of the “Topography of Terrors”, a free public exhibit located near the remains of the Berlin Wall (which also crosses Wilhelmstraße). The exhibit is actually on the grounds of the former Gestapo/SS headquarters and shows the crimes committed by Hitler’s secret police.

Photo 3 : The single Nazi-era building on Wilhelmstraße to survive air raids by the Allies. This was the Luftwaffe Headquarters under the command of Hermann Göring during WWII. Today, it’s the modern location of the Ministry of Finance.

Photo 4 : It looks like a pleasant little residential square with a kiddy park, but this little courtyard just off of Wilhelmstraße was built on the grounds of Hitler’s Chancellery. Underneath this courtyard was Hitler’s bunker, where he spent his last days… and where he ultimately committed suicide with his new wife, Eva Braun/Hitler.

Photo 5 : Another view of the same courtyard built over Hitler’s bunker (which was filled in with concrete by the Soviets after the war). Somewhere near this spot is where Hitler’s staff attempted to cremate his body after his suicide. Not such a cheerful little courtyard anymore, is it?

Aside from being the location of the Gestapo and SS Headquarters, the Luftwaffe Headquarters, Hitler’s Chancellery, and Hitler’s bunker, Wilhelmstraße also housed the Propaganda Ministry, run by Joseph Goebbels.

Evil street, indeed!

(Photos taken by me, 14 May 2012.)