Teufelsberg

Mar 14, 2023229 comments

Field Station Berlin: Spy station in from the cold

A Cold War relic lies abandoned on top of a mountain made of rubble, built over a Nazi college that couldn’t be destroyed after World War II. The gates of the former US spy station are locked and secure, its perimeter sealed by an uncompromising high fence, an angry crisscross mesh of wires that clearly imply “Eintritt Verboten!

Welcome to Teufelsberg, literally ‘Devil’s Mountain,’ a hill reaching 120.1 meters above sea-level, made from an estimated 12 million cubic meters of war rubble (apparently about 400,000 bombed houses) pushed together in the north of the Grunewald forest in West Berlin.

Buried deep beneath is what remains of a planned Nazi military training school designed by Hitler’s chief architect Albert Speer. So sturdy was it that attempts by the Allies to destroy it failed, so they covered it with war-rubble instead. There was plenty of it around at the time.

Every day, 80 truckloads of 7,000 cubic meters of rubble collected mostly by local women used to arrive. They became known as Trümmerfrauen or ‘rubble women’ for their efforts.

Perched atop this (wo)man-made mound now sits the old abandoned listening or intelligence-gathering station used during the Cold War by the Americans and British to learn what was going on in Russian-controlled East Germany.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn’t very discreet; three huge bulbous globes, two radomes perched atop buildings three-stories high and another sitting a further six-stories higher, creating a giant condom-shaped tower.

Due to its unique fucked-up history – a starring role in two World Wars and its subsequent division between the world’s superpowers – Berlin found itself at the center of the so-called Cold War. Thankfully this remained only a pseudo war that flattered to deceive and never came to fruition despite the considerable expense accrued by its protagonists.

Like Berlin’s much-delayed new airport would prove to be years later, it was a considerable waste of money, time and effort, with very little in the way of airborne activity.

Spying and surveillance were the order of the day in divided Berlin. American mobile listening units, eavesdropping on Soviet and East German communications in the late 1950s, discovered they got better reception and coverage from the top of Berlin’s highest (albeit modest) mountain. Astounding!

The first mobile units took up position atop the hill in July 1961, with more permanent facilities following in 1963 before Field Station Berlin Teufelsberg gradually grew over the following years to become one of the West’s largest spying stations ever – arguably the most important.

“This is all sort of difficult to discuss since we are still bound by oaths of the time,” former Teufelsberg linguist Lew McDaniel told Abandoned Berlin. “While the NSA admits it had a presence in Berlin, details are still cloaked.”

As the artificial mountain was in fact located in the British sector of Berlin, the Brits and Americans cooperated with their spying endeavors. Presumably this means the British GCHQ did whatever the NSA told it to.

Apparently British officers had their own toilets, while the Americans had to make do with just the two types – men’s and women’s.

USM 620 Kilo, as the facility was also known, was part of the worldwide Echelon spy network. Each radome globe contained massive 12-metre satellite antennas and the most sophisticated spying equipment for the time, enabling the western powers to intercept satellite signals, radio waves, microwave links and other transmissions, before interpreting and analyzing their findings. It’s clear that they didn’t really trust the Soviets that much. The feeling was mutual.

Contrary to common belief, there was no radar equipment installed at the facility. There was no need for it. Radar is used to detect objects (such as airplanes, missiles, terrain) and the Allies already had radar facilities at Tegel, Tempelhof and Gatow airports. Teufelsberg’s function was to listen – nothing more.

“This was no radar hill,” former policeman Reinhard von Bronewski told Abandoned Berlin.

Von Bronewski worked with the Berlin Brigade and had been told same by many former Teufelsberg military police, troops and high-ranking officials.

“The Soviets were pissed that the ‘Big Ear’ could even pick up their farts!” von Bronewski said. “It was no radar hill, it was the fuckin’ big ear in front their ass!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Field Station Berlin lost its raison d’être after the fall of the Berlin Wall and end of the Cold War, and was eventually abandoned in 1992 to the Wildschwein that call Grunewald home. The Americans used to call them “Grunie Pigs.” Boardom was setting in.

Teufelsberg was used for air traffic control on civilian flights in 1994 but that didn’t last long.

In 1996, the 4.7-hectare site was sold to architect-developers Hartmut Gruhl and Hanfried Schütte for 5.2 million Deutschmark. They had plans to build ‘exclusive’ apartments (all apartments are exclusive now, negating their exclusivity), a hotel and restaurant, as well as a spy-museum. Spiraling costs put paid to all that however, and the project was abandoned with debts piling up and the work in its infancy.

The developers agreed a deal with filmmaker David Lynch for the site’s sale by February 2008. Lynch and some crazy foundation of meditationists and yoga-bashers wanted to build a ‘Happiness College’ featuring a 12-storey 50-meter high ‘Tower of Invincibility’ to house 1,000 students. However, the city turned down the proposals for some reason and the deal fell through.

Former Teufelsberg workers are working to preserve the remains of the listening post as a memorial. They bemoan the damage caused to their beloved spy station by vandals and other unwanted visitors. The ‘Save Teufelsberg’ campaign remains in full swing.

The veterans placed a replica of a commemorative plaque at the site for the 50th anniversary of the first permanent spying facilities on the hill in September 2013.

In Morse code dots and dashes, it states “In God we trust, all others we monitor.”

They’re hoping to get permission for a permanent bronze plaque.

Teufelsberg was given Denkmalschutz or protected status in 2018 for its historical importance as a Cold War site. No new buildings could be built after it was declared part of the surrounding forested area in 2004, though the developers still retain ambitions of developing the existing buildings.

Meanwhile, the city’s attempts to buy it back were rebuffed with Gruhl and Schütte demanding way more than the city said it was prepared to pay. Negotiations were ongoing and likely to take some time.

Curious visitors used to be able to make their way through the broken fence and go in for a for a peaceful wander until Shalmon Abraham started renting it in 2011 and charging admission. Thuggish security ensured people paid up while giving the impression of protecting the vandalized buildings from vandals.

Abraham invited street artists to decorate the walls in a win-win for both. The artists had a place to work and their work only boosted Teufelsberg’s commercial appeal for Abraham’s paying guests’ benefit.

But the rental agreement was scrapped in 2015 after a dispute over rent. Schütte said Abraham was only interested in money, Der Tagesspiegel reported.

“Money was taken in but no rent was paid. And nothing was invested in the conservation although that was agreed,” Marvin Schütte, Hanfried’s son, told Morgenpost.

Marvin became the new tenant. He too had big plans for the site, including the opening of a café, beer garden and art gallery. He told Abandoned Berlin (though he didn’t know he was talking to AB) that he will have even more street artists working on the site than before, and that their work will be more varied, using all sorts of materials.

Tagesspiegel reported in March 2023 that Gruhl had in the meantime bought out his partner’s shares and now he wants to set up a Cold War museum in the existing buildings at Teufelsberg, as well as studios, offices and a café.

Local politician Fabian Schmitz-Grethlein said nothin’ will happen any time soon. They’re only the “first ideas that are still a long way from planning,” he said.

You can’t go right up to the very top of Teufelsberg anymore – it’s blocked off, presumably for security or safety reasons – but otherwise it’s pretty much as it was before, released from the clutches of the hired goons. Maybe now it can finally enjoy a peaceful retirement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCATION AND ACCESS (HOW TO FIND GUIDE)

  • What: Field Station Berlin Teufelsberg, former Cold War spy station or listening post brought back to the public eye in the wake of NSA spying revelations. The GCHQ left its American counterpart to bear the brunt of public anger. Of course, the anger is only recent. As one Teufelsberg veteran put it: “There is some irony in German anger over spying. Presumably, they had no headache when the Soviet bear and its cubs were being watched in order to keep them at bay.”
  • Where: Teufelsbergchaussee, 14193, Berlin.
  • How to get thereGet the S-Bahn, S9 or S75 to Heerstraße, or S1 to Grunewald and walk/cycle from there. Map can be accessed here.
  • Getting in: From the car park simply walk the paved ‘Dragonfly street’ path until you come to the fence. It’s much better fortified since someone noticed there was money to be made. If you follow it around without finding any holes you’ll come to the main gate. From there €8 will buy entrance as part of a tour. Apparently huge groups go at weekends so it’s probably best to go at other times.
  • When to go: Daytime is best for observation purposes. Teufelsberg provides great vistas over Berlin, as you’d expect from the city’s highest ‘mountain.’
  • Difficulty rating: 9/10 if you plan on sneaking in, 1/10 if you pay.
  • Who to bring: Bring your kid if he/she likes street art. Bring your friends if you don’t have a kid.
  • What to bring: Camera. Beer. A torch. A few sandwiches. It’s a long walk from the station.
  • Dangers: It’s not as dangerous since the previous tenants covered holes and blocked off areas from which you could plunge to your death. It’s not as exciting either, but the street art helps make up for the lack of danger.

Photos (2009)

Photos (2010)

Photos (2018)

Photos (2020-22)

And for anyone who likes portrait format…

Filed 26/6/2009 | Updated 14/3/2023 (With latest plans and more photos.)

I spy with my little eye…

Teufelsberg Tale

Teufelsberg Tale

Lew McDaniel of West Virginia worked as a linguist at Teufelsberg, Field Station Berlin, from 1968-71. He tells Abandoned Berlin of life at the spy station.

Stasi Hotel

Stasi Hotel

East Germany checked out right before the Stasi could check in. Their hotel was never completed. Now it’s just a great hulking ruin between the trees.

Stasi spy station

Stasi spy station

The Stasi spy station Quelle 1 in Rhinow tapped fiber cable going from West Berlin 250km across the DDR to enemy state West Germany. Sneaky.

229 Comments

  1. Hanna

    ACHTUNG – NOT SAFE!

    Would not recommend going there in the nearest future.

    I went to the Teufelsberg spy station with my boyfriend on Sunday the 31st of October to explore and take pictures of the site and the amazing view of Berlin. Not only was the surrounding forest packed with berliners out for their sunday walks, but there was also a film crew shooting a scene by the main gate. We decided not to get discouraged, having gotten thus far we simply couldn’t let the opportunity pass as our stay in Berlin was short. We searched the surrounding fence for holes, only to find that all of them were sealed shut. Eventually we found a corner where a tree leaned against the fence and the barbed wire on top was cut, so we managed to climb over. We then rushed up to the tower building, and saw guards standing outside one of the entrances. Still set on getting the full experience of the radomes, we cautiously made our way to the top, as quietly and discretely as possible. Once in the building, we met four other explorers, which was very nice, but necessarily also made us more noisy and visible from the ground area. We got to enjoy the view and have our lunch on the rooftop, but just as we were getting ready to make our way back down, an angry german dressed in black came up on the rooftop, shouting and waving his arms. He didn’t speak a word of English, but from our little knowledge of German we understood that it was strictly forbidden (more so than we thought), and that we were going to face punishment. The guard escorted us down to the first floor, where we met his supervisor, who spoke English. He insisted on seeing our identification, which he then kept in his possession while interrogating us as he led us down to the main gate. Apparently we were being led to the head guard of the facility. The boss gave us two alternatives; we could surrender our pictures and be let off with a warning, or we could keep the pictures, pay a fine of 30 euros, and face the police, which at best would cost us 150 euros in fines. We surrendered our disposable camera (leaving out the fact that we had several cameras in my bag), and they let us go with the warning of further prosecution if they ever saw us there again. Luckily they didn’t search us, or we would be far worse off. I guess they let us off pretty easy, seeing as we were merely two doe-eyed Norwegian tourists who came to “make picture” with our disposable camera, and didn’t understand the “EINTRITT VERBOTEN” signs all along the fence. Hopefully our German co-explorers were as fortunate as us.

    Reply
    • andy k

      Was USM41 Augsburg? My wife was there three years.

      Reply
  2. Spudnik

    Thanks for writing and sharing your story Hanna. It certainly doesn’t sound good. I’m not sure who those security guys are, or even if they should be there, but what you describe sounds very suspect. Whatever about the police demanding ID and what not, nobody else has the right to ANY of your belongings, pictures, cameras or anything else. Nor can they fine you €30 or issue a fine for ANYTHING at all. If they are genuine security people (which I doubt) they can escort you off the premises and call the police, but they have no right to do anything else. They could call the police but I have a feeling they’re not supposed to be there either…

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  3. Unknown

    Yep, went here on monday through a hole and got busted 2 minutes later, threatened with police action by the security guards (+ Alsatian!) . unable to speak to them in english….Walked off with no issues after some Australian explorers, also busted, shouted at them in german.
    really gutted not to make it up there but it was a cool trip out to the hill. Well done hanna for getting that far! It seems the security are pretty heavy up there at the moment… Might not have even tried though if we had read your story before!

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  4. Spudnik

    Thanks for the comment Kim. It seems the guards are a permanent presence in Teufelsberg now. I haven’t had time to get up there to investigate it further, but aim to do so within the next month. It’s just too good to be off-limits all of a sudden. I promise an investigative report to follow!

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  5. Anonymous

    i have been there many times over the years and never had trouble. about a month ago the fences were resealed so we had to do some careful climbing, more recently (2011)a new big hole has been cut (near the old original hole) and there were many people exploring the site once again. it is possible some of the squatters were posing as security? but they seemed to no longer be on site. as far as i have known any official security on-site have always been friendly and kept one opening for people to respectfully come and go. it’s definately worth having a look for yourself.

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  6. khorporative

    As of now (May 22nd, 2011) the place is open for both official and unofficial visits. It seems to have become somehow commercialized, but with proper urban exploration skills it is a proper place for a visit (besides, you can do it in a rather easy manner).

    There are multiple options to trespass the fence, just stay away from the main gate. There are some works in progress, but nothing much was happening on Sunday’s afternoon.

    Highly appreciated, made my day!

    Reply
  7. the fallen angel social club

    going to take a look at some stage next week so hopefully wont be any rogue “security” etc

    ~simon

    Reply
  8. Anonymous

    I visited just a few days ago and there were at least two easily found holes in the fence. The path seemed well worn and there were only other like minded adventurers present – no security at all. Something is definitely out of the ordinary with the occupancy and use of the place although I can’t out my finger on what it is. The stairs were freshly swept and someone had taken to attempting to repair hand rails and other bits around the place?

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  9. kauft-mein-buch.blogspot

    Lots of visitors today & No “Security Guards”

    Beautiful anyway!
    Thanks a lot!

    Reply
  10. Anonymous

    I worked here for 3 years in the 1970s as an RAF Russian linguist, staioned at Gatow. I’ve been back to Berlin several times since, sometimes with my wife (a former WRAF I met there) but never trekked up to the old place.
    I’ll be over in November and this time I might give it a looking over.
    Great site here people, well done.
    Mick, an old cold warrior.

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  11. Anonymous

    Visited to day. Excelent. Great view! Many openings in the fence, and also by the main gate.

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  12. Anonymous

    Been there twice, mid september and then again 9th October. Went midday both times; around 2:00 ish. Lots of other tourists the second time, was a bit dodgy walking around on the bottom, some squatters have moved back in and seemed a bit suspect, but once you ascend to the higher tower I didn’t see any trouble. There seems to have been an art exhibition there or something…saw a few piles of fresh fliers etc, as of recently though I would advise only checking out the main towers, the other occupants (permanent?) seemed to have colonised the parts near the smallest tower.

    Reply
  13. Bill Glucroft

    Very cool place! Went there for the first time today. Just walked around the perimeter. No need to venture in. Maybe another time: allbillnobull.net/2011/10/underwhelming-camera-market-gleis-17.html

    Reply
  14. anne_nellemann

    Thank you for a wonderful blog! I’ve been reading it for a couple of months now, but didn’t go to any of the places before last friday. My bf and I took the trip to Teufelsberg in extremely thick fog. We didn’t get the view over Berlin, but we got a hell of a cool mood while ther. Snook around for almost two hours. At some point we heard a male voice shout “HALT!” some place around the main entrance. No idea if it was the guard, but we stayed low after that, and didn’t talk that much for the remainder of our stay.

    Planning an outing with a friend this weekend, and another with my bf the week after. Thank you again so much for the detailed info on how to get in etc.

    Have you by the way heard of the abandoned insane asylum? A friend of mine mentioned it, and am considering doing that one, but need more info about the place before deciding. Guards I can handled – but if there are dogs, I’m staying clear!

    Reply
  15. Anonymous

    Just went there on this past Friday Dec 12th. We didn’t encounter any security but we did come across a several other explorers. Some said that they had heard security was more strict as of the past month or so and that you could get a ticket up to 350 Euros. We decided to proceed anyway. The gate at the driveway has a gap that you can squeeze through and if you go at night as we did I’m sure it is much easier to remain undetected. It was a really interesting site and I would highly recommend a visit but as always be careful. There are many places to take a nasty fall and apparently security might be cracking down.

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  16. P.FLX

    Yesterday (23 Jan. 2012), I was there with some friends. We saw several security guards with talkie-walkies, they said us “Das ist VERBOTTEN!”. We decided to wait a bit, walk around the fence. We meet a guide, said us that there is now guided tour for 15 euros but it´s just once week (every Sunday at 12h30 at S-Bahn Grunewald). He said us that it´s very difficult to get in and security guards are able to give us fines about 150euros. So we had some hesitations to get in.
    But we found a hole in the fence and get in! And it was AMAZING!!! We didn´t see any guards anymore, they left the site around 4h30 / 5 o´clock. Be very careful cause it might be dangerous with the rain and the mud. Don´t pay 15 euros for a guiding tour please! It is art, it is Berlin, it is about culture, don´t pay for that!
    I just can advise you to wear something very warm and enjoy it!

    Reply
  17. s

    We also went to Teufelsberg last Sunday. We tried to get in at around 2pm but there were quite a few security guards and there was also an official guided tour happening on the site for 15 euros per person. We asked some people who were just coming out through a whole in the fence if it is easy to get in: they said there are many guards but they only tell you to get out so no real danger of a fine or even police caution. But we also heard they usually leave when the tour ends around 3-3:30pm. We couldn’t wait too long as it was freezing but sunny, and around 2:30pm we got in. Once we got into a building we heard a dog barking and a security guard shouting, we ran to the other side of the building and went up the tower. The guards did not follow us, and indeed later they left, and the site was full of people wandering around, even a mother with two kids! It was definitely worth it, amazing site, though you have to watch your step when walking around. Apparently the security thing is just a facade whilst the “official” tour is happening….

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  18. Robin

    I were there today (30 January) with a couple of friends and, after a shitload of trying to sneek in quiet to avoide the guards, was greeted with childrens laughter. We were perplexed. Was it not guarded by mean german security guards? Hm. We met 10-15 people in different groups, amoung them kids – and NO guards. It was not a guided tour or anything, just a lot of fellow explorers enjoying the site in the great (but freezing) weather. So I guess the security is sporadically to frighten people from going there.

    Check out pictures of the day here (the light was amazing up there): flickr.com/photos/robinrabies/sets/72157629105158859/

    Cheers and thanks for an interesting blog.

    Reply
  19. Spudnik

    Thanks for the comments. Seems the guards aren’t too worried about protecting the place, rather they’re more worried about protecting their incomes. Though how and why they have the right to conduct “official” tours is another question. Seems very suspicious to me.
    Cool pics Robin. Yeah the light’s fantastic for exploring right now. Unfortunately work is calling too…

    Reply
  20. Guillaume

    the only issue I had there today was other explorers getting in the way of my shots…. love this place

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  21. Spudnik

    You’re right Guillaume – it’s getting pretty damn crowded these days. No wonder they want to start charging people…

    Reply
  22. Dan

    We have been there today (saturday). No security at all but a bunch of other explorers and young kids partying. The guided tour is every sunday. Maybe it’s better to go there on other days. The view is amazing and definitely worth a visit.

    Reply
  23. Davis

    I was in Teufelsberg on March 27.

    Couldn’t wait to see that place, and when I got there, the place was just amazing.

    One longboarder I met on the road was helpful and explained, that security is in site only on Sundays, when there are excursions on station.

    He showed me the hole (apparently there are various holes around the fence).

    So I got in, walked around, took pictures. There were around 30 people around the station, all friendly and various aged.

    After about an hour I noticed security at the gates so I quickly went and told some other people and we went out of the station trough a different hole, near ski slope.

    I heard some dog barks, so security also had dogs.

    That’s all.

    Reply
  24. Tommy K

    If was by Teufelsberg May 10th – lots of ways in – holes everywhere. Really nice place, but not so secret anymore. We meet at least 10 other explorers – and was “caught” after 2 hours by a guard. He was somewhat cranky in the beginning, talking about calling the police and deleting our pics, but warmed up, and told us that we could have visited legally on sundays. Ended up paying a fine which was the same price of the guided tour. 2 guards – and no dogs.

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  25. Paul

    I was there today- no security, but I did met a few other people. Tons of broken glass from assholes trashing the place, so good boots are recommended. The acoustics in the main radome are FANTASTIC.

    Reply
  26. Jon

    Went up on Friday (18/05/2012). Found a way in very, very easily, and started snapping away. After about half an hour two security guards caught us and some others, and escorted us out, whilst the whole time we could hear youngsters in the radomes above throwing bottles off the top! I decided to give it until after six to see if the guards would leave, and then tried again solo. I managed to make it the roof after playing cat and mouse with the guards, but there was a man putting some railings around the edge of the roof who phoned security, and before I could even get my tripod set up I was joined by security. He didn’t threaten me with a fine after I made it clear I didn’t understand his German unlike some people have said, and was actually nice enough to let me get the shot that I wanted overlooking the city to the East! I made my way down (getting a few more shots, obviously) before exiting the site through some very obvious holes at the back of the site. Definitely worth the mosquito bites we got! Would love to go again for sunset.

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  27. Mike D

    Hi, I used to work here. And I can confirm that there are wild boar in the forest – I came across a family of them on my mountain bike. I bought that bike back in 1991 in a shop in Berlin and I still have it. It was the best way to get around the city because the Germans are a clever lot and they provide cycle lanes everywhere.
    Anyway – back to T-Berg, as we used to call it. The work room was a bit boring and had no windows. We worked shifts so we did not see day-light for many hours. There was a pretty good restaurant on site and it did a decent burger and chips at 4am – the Americans shift system was different to ours for some reason and their vending machines were full of American junk. Tasted OK but you knew it was pure crap.
    No, I am not going to say what I used to do because that is all behind us now. It is a shame that the site has not been redeveloped into something more interesting.
    Oh yeah, there was a nudist colony in the woods somewhere. I cam across that on a bike ride with my girlfriend (now wife). Not that nice.
    I do remember finishing a morning shift and running back to our accommodation which was in the Olympic village behind the stadium. Ah, happy days.

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  28. Spudnik

    Mike, hi. Thanks for your comment. If you’re interested in talking a bit more about your work there, please get in touch! Thanks again.

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  29. Anonymous

    There were also these strange creatures working there that sometimes wore blue shirts and camo pants. We were led to believe they were RAF, but the RAF was too cheep to buy camo tops to go with the pants. Having worked there, I also remember listening to Waldbuhne concerts while on the roof. I also have fond memories of rappeling off the climbing tower outside the fence as well as off a bridge that crossed a gully.

    Reply
  30. Anonymous

    Went there last week with some friends. After sneaking in through a hole in the fence we were caught by a guy wearing a security vest who took us into a nearby building. There was a guy waiting there who told us we had to pay a 5 dollar “entry fee” and sign a waiver that they weren’t responsible for what happened to us in any way shape or form (very German). After that we were free to explore, it was quiet busy and I think we say ~20 other explorers. There we’re also a couple graffiti artists around the place that were working on new pieces. Some of the buildings were off limits though (luckily not the cool main one with the domes) because there was asbestos and exposed fiber glass in them. This all happened on a Thursday and after sneaking in we saw that the main gate at the entrance was open and you could just enter and exit through that.

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  31. Anonymous

    Was there on 20th of July 2012 and had exactly the same experience as the above poster of 16th of July. We actually found an empty copy of that waiver in a building and took it with us. Hasn’t managed to find any real info when googling the company name: “Teufelsberg Gmbh”, but the english wikipedia page for Teufelsberg links to a company that claims to do guided tours there.
    I’d say that the best graffiti is in building with the main tover. If you bring

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  32. warren

    Hi all. By total good fortune followed a couple of kids who climbed a fence to gain entry. As a 64 year old adventurer I found the entire discovery adventure a real blast. Finally found the external stairway and made it to the top for an amazing vista of the city and the surrounds. The graffiti kids have done some cool work and everyone seemed to be chilling out. great experience and I came away with some great photo shots even if they were courtesy of the trusty I Phone.Gold.

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  33. keohookalani

    Warren, I think you met us as well, while you were there on Monday. We went exploring after about 7pm and had a blast climbing buildings we shouldn’t climb and getting on tops of things that weren’t easy to get on top of. It was very chill and there were a ton of people there hanging out, exploring, and creating new graffiti. Irish, are any of your sites that you’ve posted about, no longer accessible? And do you have plans for more explorations?

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  34. Spudnik

    As far as I’m aware only the Garbáty cigarette factory is now out of bounds. It’s now apartments.
    Otherwise, everything else is still explorable, albeit with increased security in places, and with people trying to make money from explorers in others.
    And yes, I do have plans to write about a couple more explorations I’ve done lately. Time (or lack of it) is my main problem at present.

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  35. Unknown

    I’m definitely looking forward to it! We’re going to Berlin for the entire month of September — here’s hoping you find some time until then 🙂

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  36. Unknown

    I also visited Teufelsberg in August 2011. I saw about 6 or 8 people there, no security at all. Really, really nice.

    Blog post here (in French, LOTS of pictures): <b> europatrick.com/2011/08/27/retrospective-de-vendredi-1ere-partie/</b>

    Reply
  37. Anonymous

    I was there today with some friends. We tried to enter through the main gate. But a guy stood there and acted like a guard, he told us that he wanted 5 euro per person for entrance. It was obvious he had no rights to do that. So we found a hole in the fence (quite tricky to find actually) and entered. At the tower we really saw a LOT of people who wanted to check out the place. Before we were leaving however, we checked out a place that looked like a “village” with a small spy tower and two “bars” made for open air parties probably. Then the security guy suddenly stood there again and asked for a ticket. We started to walk away, but then another guy came out of the small tower, talking to the “security guy”, apparently a friend of his. The guy was wearing a kaftan and a turban. We got away, but the security guy was kind of intimidating.

    Being at the tower was totally chill, they were even rigging up a lot of stuff for what seemed like a music video. But the security guys – it smelled like scam and corruption.

    Reply
  38. Justine

    Hi,
    I went there a couple of times, but I recently went there 1 weeks ago.
    Me and my friend, really had difficulties to find a place where to go through the fence, as it looks like they closed and the holes that were through the fence. We finally found our way climbing over the fence, but my dress got a bit stucked in the barbed wire, so I ended up with a couple of holes in my dress, but didn’t hurt my self. Anyway, if you’re a woman, I would recommend you not to were adress or a skirt if you decide to go there. Once, inside, we talked with a guy who was living there in the small tower. He asked us if we paid to get in, and we said no. Then he told us, that we’re supposed to go to see the guard, and pay 5€ to get in,so then we could receive a stamp. Apparently, the security guy was his friend. As he was a bit insistent, we pretendind that we would go to meet and pay the security guy a bit later, but of course we didn’t. Then, we went to explore the place, but didn’t have any other trouble, and we didn’t see the guard.
    The last time I went there, in july, it was so much easier to get in, and while we were sitting in the building looking at some guys making some graffitis, the guard appeared, he had a look at the guys making graffitis and at us, but didn’t say anything at all, and then just left.
    Anyway, if you go there, don’t take the main entrance, as they are probably gonna charge you 5€,try to avoid the guard, and if some people ask you if you paid, whoever they are just say yes, as it will avoid you having trouble
    .

    Reply
  39. Anonymous

    I have been there a couple of times this summer, but the last time that I went was much different than before. It was Saturday, Sept 1. The fence had undergone some major repairs, and we had trouble finding a hole. Eventually we found one that looked brand new, and climbed through and started walking around. Despite the newly restored fence, we weren’t too worried about guards as there were a handful of people kind of lying around, and I just assumed they were hanging out. We were caught almost immediately by a weary seeming guard who just looked like a normal guy and escorted out the front gate.

    He asked us to tell him where the hole that we found was, but we just kind of mumbled about climbing the fence so he dropped it.

    We went right back through the same hole and approached the main towers from the opposite side, but we were a bit put off because we could hear people doing work to the building with electric saws, etc. Again we saw some people lying around the main building, and when they saw us they kind of started looking at us so we ducked behind some bushes. Finally we decided to approach them, figuring they probably were involved in the tours (run by artists, very low key) and would let us stay if we acknowledged that no insurance would cover us if we got hurt (As in the past). As we started to walk towards them though, a car drove up and screeched on the breaks as soon they saw us so we ran.

    On our way out we saw the same guy who had kicked us out — he was closing up our hole. He just kind of shook his head and said “Really? Again” and we apologized and climbed through.

    Does anyone know what’s going on up there? Other than a few Australian teenagers we met in the woods just inside the fence, there seemed to be no one unofficial up there, which is a big difference from last time. Are they restoring it maybe or doing some kind of repairs? The “guards” had multiplied and seemed to actually care if people were there or not, and that car screeching to a halt seemed pretty serious…

    Also, if anyone is seriously interested in this stuff and has an extra ten euro or so, it’s worth it to take the tour if they are in fact cracking down for real. I did the tour with my language school when I first came to Berlin, and the people running it are super chill and relaxed, but also knowledgeable.

    Reply
  40. fhain_lady

    friend and i visited the place yesterday (just to note, we were there around 2pm on a weekday) – it was my first time there, but he had visited it a couple of years ago and knew the way. circled the perimeter looking for a way in, but found all the gaps and holes to be sealed up (and sealed up well – in some cases with barbed wire). after a long walk around, we stumbled upon another bunch of tourists who found a hole that had been sealed up, but had been made loose so that one could (with a bit of difficulty) climb their way through.

    walked up towards the tower and ran in to a couple of people on the way – next to the building we saw a couple of people working on the place, doing various restorations or artworks. There were also a couple of cars and a van, which surprised us as we were not aware that the place was being actively used by anyone. we assumed that perhaps a tv crew or so were filming there that day and therefore using the area.

    we walked the stairs up to the main tower, where we ran in to a couple of guys with a camera, who essentially ignored our presence, which we took to be a good sign. walking up, we heard more voices and stumbled upon maybe 10 or so people upon reaching the floor. a couple of them were a bit older (60+) so we thought that we had perhaps stumbled upon a tour group of some sort, knowing that tours were being held at the place, but not when or where.

    we were greeted by a man who immediately demanded to know who we were. he was dressed normally, with a bit of unwashed smell about him. we played the unassuming tourist card and when he asked how we got in, we admitted we came through a hole. he seems quite surprised about this, asking us where it was and said something about getting it sealed up again (we didn’t give it away). he told us that he was holding an organised tour there, for which one usually pays 7 euros, but let us join the tour and said he would let us off if we gave a donation at the end of the tour. i asked him a bit about what was going on there, saying that i didn’t at all know that there were organised tours at all, etc. he spoke of an artist collective (former squatters?) who have been working on transforming the area in to a tacheles-style centre for art, performance and culture. they’ve been working on getting the official approval for the usage of the buildings (the group has secured the length of the tower with hand rails and barriers to stop people from falling out of the barriers, for example) and mentioned that they received approval to start running tours at the site (assumedly from the behörde) as of last week or so. so the developments are all quite recent.

    (cont..)

    Reply
  41. fhain_lady

    (cont..)

    in any case, they seem like a legitimate group that are running the site at the moment, if not a bit blue-eyed and (might i say it) hippie-esque. your standard squatter-artist types. at some point there was an artist doing something with the cloth exterior of the tower (complete with abseiling rig) and the guide we were speaking to asked him about what he was doing, and asked the guy if he had received permission from someone to do so, so there seems to be some kind of organisation within the group. plan at the moment seems to be to expand the tours held there (assumedly to pump up revenue), with the end goal to turn the site in to a legally run artist collective. we were up in the dome (with the insane acoustics) and he spoke about the possibility of holding concerts up there, etc and using the space constructively. they’ve also joint up with a local hacker collective and apparently wireless internet is going to be installed in the coming week or so, so one can access wifi from the site. lots going on, all serious it seems.

    at some point the guide was distracted chiding a group of other visitors who had also climbed through the same hole we did, and we took the chance to escape through the front gate and spent about an hour trying to get back out of the grünewald. nice guy, but something about him wasn’t quite right. all in all a great day – there are definitely changes going on up there. the guided tours seem to run daily (the guy spoke of not wanting to do any marketing, and just waiting for the visitors to come to them – you can join by going through the front gate). don’t know how long the hole-in-the-fence tactic will last unfortunately, they seem to be there around the clock (from the smell of him, he hadn’t left for a while) and serious about keeping all the holes closed, with the tours probably being their only source of revenue.

    i’m leaving berlin soon, so i won’t be back to visit and time soon, but i’d love to hear any updates about the place. glad to have stopped by – i think the glory days might unfortunately be over though.

    Reply
  42. fhain_lady

    oh and, this weekend is ‘tage der offenen tür’ with concerts and events planned, for anyone who is interested. enter through the main gate

    Reply
  43. Spudnik

    fhain_lady – thanks a million for your informative and detailed comment, a post in itself! Sorry to hear you’re leaving Berlin soon. Hope it treated you well.
    Also, thanks to the anonymous posters and Justine for their contributions. Every one of your comments are of great help to anyone thinking of visiting Teufelsberg.

    Reply
  44. AmyVan

    Hi Guys,

    I have been meaning to go to Teufelsberg since I moved here 6 months ago. Unfortunately I only got around to it yesterday. Firstly my boyfriend and I walked the wrong way so got lost in the forest for a few hours which really wasn’t as romantic as it sounds. When we finally got to the front gates of the spy station there were quite a few people waiting there as there was a sign on the locked gate which read ‘Tour at 4pm’ and other signs suggesting the tour would cost 7 euros. We were a bit disappointed with that and discussed with the others there if there were any holes that we could climb through, after circumnavigating the fence we found that any tiny hole that might once have been had been completely covered. At 4.30 a burly looking secruty guy came to the gate, made some kind of exchange with a guy in the car and then told everyone that the tour would start in 45 minutes when he would lead us in and then back out. He left the gate again and everyone in the group decided that there was something really strange about the whole thing and that we did not want to fund it. Considering everyone was there to see it, no one went on the tour. Managed to get a couple of shots of the spy station on the walk around the fence but will not be going back, it looks like the place is run by a bunch of opportunists now, and not even nice ones. Gutted.

    Reply
  45. JC

    I visited the Teufelsberg site on Monday 24th September. Due to the popularity of the place it looks like they’re regularly letting visitors in for a 7 Euro fee- the place actually felt a little crowded at times.

    It’s possible to get through the fence- there are literally dozens of wholes, breaks in the fence which have since been resealed with barbed wire and mesh. Access points are scarce so I’d recommend pliers or wire cutters to reopen a gap. Security seemed pretty lax, they were unable to distinguish myself from the legitimate paying customers- I think that Hanna’s horror story (#45) may be an unfortunate exception.

    Upon leaving the site I cycled down the path towards HeerStrasse. I paused as I heared the sound of mysterious grunts and squeels, they were coming from the trees beside me. Upon closer inspection- A wild boar- piglet by its side- the thing was charging for me. After reading this article I thought these WildSchwein were something of a myth- but they’re real- they’re there- they’re aggressive- take care!!

    JC

    Reply
  46. Malina

    Hello,

    Yep, a beautiful, eerie site. Went there on the last warm week-end of October. Did not know about the place much, apart from the fact I really wanted to see it. Did not know of this blog at the time either. Walked up the hill and just saw a bunch of people standing in front of the gate – nobody quite knew when when it was starting and for how long it would last, but they were waiting for a tour. A hand-made sign graffitied on a piece of cardboard inside said something like “guided tour every hour”. I did not want to wait around, and noticed some traffic along the fence towards the left of the gate, so decided to explore. A few hundred meters in – bam – there was a small hole in the fence with a steady stream of people (it was a week-end) sifting through regularly. Bingo. I was in. I happily explored the surrounding buildings for a while and then found the way to the highest tower – of course, I just had to get up there.

    Got to the first level platform (where another dome sits) and this is where I ran into the asshole who presumably runs the tour. I was starting to climb up the stairs towards the highest dome when he interpelled me and asked me if I had a stamp. I said I didn’t (pretty much like another hundred people there, but that’s not the issue). So he said I have no right to be there and have to get down. I asked why. He said he owned the place, was renting it, and it was private property. I asked to see some proof of that – or maybe like a guide pass – something official. At which point he said he will call the police. I said, please do. And then he started getting very agressive and threatening, screaming at me to “get down” – like an order. I wish I knew kung fu as I was really tempted to smack his ass for pointless agressive abuse. But he was sturdier and larger than me, and I was standing with my back to the staircase, so became afraid he’d push me down the flight of stairs or something. Danger vibes. So I decided to retreat. I went around the wall and stood there until he left. Then I went up to enjoy the magical acoustics, but the experience was by now just a little bit spoilt as I could not get rid of my anger from being threatened like that. By a blatant liar on top of things.

    I still wonder why he interpelled just me, and not, for example, the two german dudes with cameras not far behind who also climbed through the hole. Maybe because I was a girl and on my own. Easy prey. What an asshole.

    So come with friends 🙂

    I am only for creative takeovers of places by artists and various nutter communities, but now I’m really sad to know the site is being taken over by a bunch of nasty opportunists. Can we do something about it?

    Reply
  47. Spudnik

    Hi Malina,
    Thanks for sharing your experience. Happy to hear you still enjoyed your visit despite that asshole. What a prick! But I reckon you took the right approach. Of course you’re always within your rights to ask for some form of ID. Even the ticket checkers on the trains carry ID.
    Unfortunately there are opportunists everywhere, and Berlin is just like everywhere else in that regard – maybe even worse.
    Thanks again,
    IB

    Reply
  48. Malina

    Hey IB,

    Glad to share – and yes, it was absolutely amazing despite meeting the biggest prick on earth there.

    Thanks for this blog – I’m up for more adventures now! : )

    Reply
  49. Spudnik

    Malina, your story prompted me to go have a look again for myself. So I went again today. Will post the latest update shortly.
    You’re very welcome by the way. I’m glad people get a kick out of it. Not literally of course – that’s the last thing I’d want. 😉

    Reply
  50. Spudnik

    Former Teufelsberg-Guide, I’m very sorry, I did not wish to remove your comment. I was simply trying to remove the link. Below is a copy of the original comment you left, and I will post my original response below too:

    “Since last May, Teufelsberg ist hired out from the Cologne investor to a private tenant. He organize the security at his own expenses to protect Teufelsberg from vandalism, metal thief and firebugs. There are on workdays security guides on the area, they may be a kind of rude, for my opinion the organisation of security and entrance fees is still a bit obscure at the moment.
    “As a quid pro quo the tenant can use the area for guided tours or other of a business nature (fims, photographing, workshops…). i think, it’s fair and the only way to protect Teufelsberg at the moment. But it is not legal to take entrance fees on workdays without visiting the TBerg while a guided tour.
    “Be sure, the entrance fee, that every legal visitor pay on Sat/Sun is not for enrichment of the tenant, it is two-thirds for protection of the heritage Teufelsberg, and for one third for the guy (student, historian or US-contemporary witness), who guides you! Please use the regular – legal – way and visit Teufelsberg on Saturday or Sundays 1 p.m. – For students or unemployed people it “only” costs 8 € – it is for a thing, what I considers a good cause.”

    Reply
  51. Spudnik

    (In response to the original comment left by the poster above.)

    As I wrote in response to your previous comment:
    I’d have a lot more compassion for protecting the heritage of Teufelsberg if there weren’t hired goons threatening and assaulting people on the site.
    Whether they work for Berlin Sight Out or merely themselves is almost irrelevant. Nobody should physically or mentally abuse anyone, in any circumstances.
    As you can see from all the comments above, I’m not the first person to run into problems. I’m sure I won’t be the last. Just because the guy running the operation has permission from the owner to run tours does not make it OK to bully and harass people, even if you think it’s merely being “kind of awkward with you.”
    You talk about protecting the heritage. What’s to protect? The place is fucked. It was fucked when I was there in 2009 for the first time.
    I have a new update that I’ll be posting now. It fills in a few blanks in the story.
    Thanks for taking the time to write.
    IB

    Reply
  52. Anonymous

    the hill.bloody cold in winter working in a tin shack.jonnsey the driver taken us up for the night shift wrapped up in in great coats sitting in front of radios and tape recorders. getting calls for exercise rocking horse in the early hours and humping up to the hill just to sit there wondering.jack blacklock wo. done a spell as armed courier down to berlin hq, nearly shot jim wooton when showing what i had to do if challenged. i had a browning 9 mm, whistle, case and hadcuffs and that was that. anyone reading this remembers 18 gds tank div 208 motorised regr 3 shock army will know.the best was if you got in the american canteen first you had the pick of the menu. jim hammond was quized by the american cook for putting salad cream on his pears(he thought it was cream) happy days.ex op 562

    Reply
  53. Spudnik

    Sounds like you have some fond memories of that place! I’d love to hear more of them. Can you email me? You’ll get my email address through my profile above, or by clicking here: blogger.com/profile/15582705259374923073
    Hope to hear from you ex op 562!

    Reply
  54. Anonymous

    Greetings —

    I spent some time in Berlin before and after Stackpole — the blue building with the tower and the 2 domes. I was in both USM620K and USM5. I spent time discovering tunnels from the Hauptkadetten Anstalt (Andrews Barracks) to Templehof and the tunnels under Templehof — there is as much below ground as above ground. I also found some of the Funkstelle the Wehrmacht used at Teufelsberg. The US, the Germans, and the Brits just covered it up and built on top of it. There was a tunnel from Marienfelde site to the east but this was discovered and closed.
    I sat pos, transcribed, and hate reel to reel to this day.
    Spoke with tower guards.
    Have my own chunk of The Wall taken between Reichstag and Brandenburger Tor/Pariser Platz when it was, ‘The Wall’.
    Had a special tour of Spandau and saw the special resident.
    Stole an East German flag from a unit in Magdeburg.
    Had a great time.
    Love Berlin.
    Want to go back one day.

    Reply
    • andy k

      Was Augsburg USM-41? Thanks and best wishes!

      Reply
  55. Spudnik

    Hey there! Thanks for sharing your experiences! I’d love to hear more, so If you could email me directly I’d much appreciate it. You’ll get the email link by clicking on my profile page.
    Vielen Dank
    IB

    Reply
  56. Anonymous

    I worked there from 1990 to closure, then finished my tour working from Gatow.
    Loved the place. It’s a bit sad to see the place looking like it does, but i would actually love to return and have a look again.

    Reply
  57. Spudnik

    You know there’s a reunion later this year? In September. I’d love to hear more about your experiences. If you see this, please get in touch. You’ll get my email address through my profile above.

    Reply
  58. Anonymous

    No I didn’t know. Thanks, I may look into that

    Reply
  59. Anonymous

    i clicked email but not bringing anything up mate

    Reply
  60. Anonymous

    Hello. Having read these comments quite a few times before I finally got around to going today, I thought I’d add my thoughts and try to give an honest opinion because what I experienced was quite different to what I expected.

    First of all, I was planning on going through the fence, not paying some dodgy people for a tour. Well after walking the wrong way for about 20 minutes (don’t follow Google Maps on your phone if you’ve searched for Teufelsberg) I finally got up there. Just as I got there I saw a group of about 6 people being let in. In an instant I decided it wasn’t worth trying to get through the fence because a) the guy had seen me walk up the hill and b) I wanted to take pictures and I didn’t want to get found and kicked out after 2 minutes after having come so far. So, I coughed up 7 Euros and joined the tour (“tour”). Once I was in I was very satisfied with my decision because I saw a lot of people and several “tour guides”, one of whom was American and was actually talking like a real tour guide (from what I gathered from a girl later on though, his cost 15 euros and was a bit longer).

    I trailed the group taking pictures until the point where I lost them accidentally. Later I’d discover they went up to the domes and not down which is where I went. After that I wandered around on my own taking pictures “off the tour trail” and didn’t see anyone else, which was pretty great. Eventually I gave up and started walking back. One of the guys saw me and was suspicious I hadn’t paid and took me back to the gate, I asked if I could go up the tower and he said the tour was over. The next bit is what surprised me. The guy at the gate said I was in his tour and told the other guy to take me up to the tower with a couple of people who were waiting for the tour (so I basically got 2 tours in the end and didn’t miss anything). I was genuinely surprised by this given that I expected these guys to be dodgy thugs. To be completely honest they were actually pretty nice and decent (I’m not saying they have always been like this of course).

    Overall it is a shame not to be able to explore the place like you used to, but to me it was still definitely worth paying 7 euros because I had a great experience (on my own most of the time) and got some nice pictures. It seems that what once was a thuggish operation is now a pretty well-established tour thing, they even have books on Teufelsberg for sale at the gate. Oh and on another note, on my way back from the second time around a load of people got caught going through the hole in the fence. It’s still there, around to the left of the gate. If you get there at a time when they are not (I was hoping it would be empty on Sunday but apparently not), then you could still get in.

    Just thought I’d share my experience. I’m not excusing them for past behaviour but it seems like they’ve cleaned up their act a bit. If you want to just wak around and take photos, you can either chance it or pay 7 Euros. If you want what sounded like an actual tour (with the American guy) it’s a whopping 15 Euros. Hope this information helps some people, as all of the comments here helped me.

    -James

    Reply
  61. Spudnik

    James, thank you very much for your comment. I’m glad someone had a positive story to share after all the negative stories I’ve heard and the bad experience I’ve had. Thanks for taking the time to share.
    IB

    Reply
  62. Anonymous

    Yeh, they are probably still jerks to anyone trying to get through the fence to be honest. My advice would be if you choose not to sneak in, then on the way back down from the tower at the end of the tour, when you take a left to go outside and back down, to take a sharp right and go down the next flight of stairs. A torch would be very useful though because some parts down there are pitch black (I used my phone). Then once you’re finished exploring this bit (where there are literally no people, tourists or “tour guides”, you can head around the building to the start and just claim you got lost.

    -James

    Reply
  63. Anonymous

    What’s the situation at the moment? I’ll be in Berlin 1st of februari (friday) until tuesday the 5th, and would love to visit this place. Thanks!

    – Jasper

    Reply
  64. Spudnik

    Hi Jasper. The situation hasn’t changed much since I last updated this post. There is security on the site most of the time, if not all of it. The crowd they work for offer “official” tours on Sundays, and “unofficial” tours on other days, which may or may not actually involve them guiding you on a tour. The “official” tour is €15 as far as I know. If you google Teufelsberg tours I’m sure you’ll find them. And if you hop the fence, they’ll probably find you.
    Viel Spaß!

    Reply
  65. Christian W

    Hey Irish. Can I tell you… I love your blogs! My friend and I are great fans of photography, and we googled exciting places in Berlin to go to – first hit, your blogs. 🙂
    We went to the Spreepark on a very foggy night in November, and I can’t but be honest, it was the craziest experience I’ve ever had. Edging along the fence, solely to discover a weak spot in the fence, was half an adventure. It was rather cold that night, and everything stood in deep mist. It was beautiful: the lighting in the sunset, before it got dark 😉

    I’ve actually known the Teufelsberg since long, but I never gotten to actually going there, or even bothering to think about it. However, lately in these dark and cold wintery months, did I get excited about spring. I’m curious if it’s possible to create a timelapse from the Teufelsberg overnight? I passed the area last year with my bike on a short trip, and took notice of the security guards everyone is rantng about, heh ;p.
    Do they ‘ever’ leave?. I’m sure, that if they do, they lock the main gate etc. Well, is there a way to get in via paying (as hopping the fence I believe puts you onto their hostile list 😉 , and just… staying overnight? haha. Or do they patrol the area and kick you out once it gets dark? Oh and, do you “have” to join a tour? or can you just roam freely?

    thanks a million =]

    Reply
  66. Spudnik

    Hi Christian,
    I’m not sure what hours the security guards keep. When I confronted them one of them told me he lived on the site, but the head of the company that employs them told me no one lives there. So someone’s telling porkies.
    I think they expect you to stick to the tour, no wandering off freely, but others have done just that and lived to tell the tale. I didn’t take a tour, so cannot really answer your question.
    Best to just go up there and have a look for yourself. Let us know how you get on!
    Good luck,
    IB

    Reply
  67. Anonymous

    why do you write abandoned??? it s not abandoned.. it has been bought by someone in 2010 maybe..is full of security…

    Reply
  68. Spudnik

    Read the history man. It was abandoned before someone decided to make money out of it.

    Reply
  69. Fred

    Well, I went there a couple of days ago as it was a beautiful day but unlike other times, the fences had been ‘fixed’ and I went round to try and find a gap, but didn’t find any. I had no tools so didn’t even try to climb the fence.
    The last time I went was in June 2012, the fence was full of holes and access was easy. I didn’t see any guards, dogs but quite a few visitors. Obviously, there not much left there, the buildings have been vandalised but I went up the tower and it’s actually a little scary. The elevator shaft is open, and a fall would be nasty. As you go up the stairs, the wind gets stronger, there are no protection rails but the views are amazing.
    Artists (well, guys who make graffiti) have had a hell of a time there. Paintings everywhere!

    Here’s my take on the place: flickr.com/photos/fred1969/sets/72157630436086072/

    Reply
  70. Anonymous

    I can verify that were were indeed “Wildscheine” Wild pigs in Gruenewald. I drove to Andrews barracks from “the Hill” one day in 1969 and they hit my Ford 12M and ran off before I knew it. Those were the days.

    Der Olle Ami

    Reply
  71. AussieCassie

    G’day
    I just posted on the Vogelsang page. In fact I would be willing to adventure with you if you’ll have me. I’m not scared of anything and physically fit.
    These places are magic

    Reply
  72. Spudnik

    G’day Cassie. There will be no lack of people willing to go on adventures with you once you get there.

    And you’re right – these places are magic.

    Reply
  73. Anonymous

    I went to Teufelsberg a few times before, first some years ago when everything was pretty much open to everyone, then last summer and it was as you described (some weird-looking guards asking 5euros and a signature, then letting me wander freely). I always had plenty of fun and made a lot of good photographs there…
    However, during a bike tour around Grünewald last month, I had a quick look at the place again: indeed, there seems to be only guided tours now, with 2 possibilities: 7euros/1h and 15euros/2h, without being able to be on my own (I came on a Sunday though, no idea about these unofficial tours on weekdays)
    I had a quick chat with the guards (not the same guys as last summer): they didn’t go into details, but they seemed to be dismissive about the previous guys, it actually seems to be a new company now. Maybe your posts & inquiries from last November made that happen?

    -French Berliner

    Reply
  74. Spudnik

    Hey French Berliner!
    No, they fit the description of the guys I met in November. It’s an official company as such, with permission from the owner to be on the site as long as they take care of “security”. He doesn’t care what money they make from tours, so they treat it as a cash cow and are milking it now while they still can.

    Reply
  75. Anonymous

    Hi Irish Berliner !

    First I would like to thank you for your blog ! Really hepful when you want to do cool stuff in Berlin.

    I managed to get in Teufelberg, under the fences. After a couple of hours, we tried to climb the stairs to the tower ; one can find metal doors at each floor, some of them barbed. They were not closed, because there was some visits running. Arrived to the third floor, we faced a guard, who said us to go back. He seemed to call someone with his phone…
    So we returned to our hole in the fence, which had already been repaired. The people who saw us cross probably referred to the staff of the place =/. We decided to “flee” by the main entrance, when we saw one (or more, according to my buddy, who had a better point of view) police car heading towards the main entrance. We were pretty stunned. However, we managed to cross over the fences without being caught, although I do not know whether the cops were here for us or not…

    So saturday afternoon is, as one could easily guess, not the safest hour to get into the park. And the current guards might not be joking any more =/.

    Reply
  76. Helena Mikas

    Actually I’m kind of glad they are there doing tours + security .Used to work for the British and saw TBerg from my flat each day .Spooky then . Went up there kite flying and walking the dog .Grünie Pigs do exist and a plenty .They keep a low profile during the day and are best avoided when they have little ones . Be careful on TBerg in June as there are tics .Some are nasty and infect your blood if you get bitten . As to the listening station and why I’m glad its being looked after — there was a fire there couple or so years back . It destroyed many of the panels leaving the skeleton like TBerg we see today Approx 4 +years ago made a little film pre the fire , from outside the fence and the noise of the panels flapping was fantastic . Long live Teufelsberg ( which by the way has now been remeasured and is found to be larger than they thought )…. Check this out in the German press April 2013

    Reply
  77. Spudnik

    Thanks for the comment Helena. Personally, I think they’re just making money from admission fees, that the place is already thrashed to fuck and can’t be any more thrashed, but there you go. If they are preserving it – and i think it should be preserved – then good.

    Reply
  78. Unknown

    Hi all,

    I’m currently researching a longform article about Teufelsberg and I would love to hear some personal experiences of it. If you’ve been there, had contact with the people who have taken it over, or know anyone who worked there (or, of course, worked there yourself), then I’d love to hear from you.

    You can reach me at HENRYKREMPELS AT GMAIL DOT COM

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  79. Unknown

    I’m writing a piece on Teufelsberg for a literary magazine, and I’d love to include your experiences in it. If you’re interested, you can reach me at henrykrempels(at)gmail.com

    Reply
  80. horn

    Hello
    Just a quick update. I made it over to Teufelsberg yesterday (monday) with a couple of friends. We walked a little way along the fence, noting most of it had been shored up with metal, mesh, barbed wire, seemingly anything to hand. We had assumed it might be quiet on a monday, but arrived near the gate to find 7 or 8 folk who had already paid up to a frail looking fellow with a clipboard.
    To be honest, having read through the comments on here (thanks btw! to you and all the submitters! very helpful), we had already decided if someone’s on the gate, let’s just pay, as it seemed most folk were caught at some point. Perhaps a little pessimistic… but hey, I just wanted to see it.
    Anyway, 7€ and a waiver later, we were in. At first, it was a little annoying that the guy insisted we stay with him and the group, but you know, it’s not a big site, yet there’s enough space to explore without feeling as if you’re in each other’s pockets. They gave us plenty time to take photos (and i took tons), have a poke around and check out the amazing acoustics.
    I wouldn’t say everything felt super-organised, it was pretty lo-fi, but there was a presence that I think would be hard to avoid, there were atleast 3 guys on-site (one wearing a go-pro for some reason) and there were already more folk waiting to go in when we left (they locked the gate when we got in). So, pretty popular, even on a monday.
    I’d recommend just sucking it up, try not to think about whether it’s legit/fair and enjoy. It’s an amazing place regardless of how you enter the premises. But that’s just my humble of course, however you do it, just go, you won’t regret it.
    Nipper

    Reply
  81. Elizabeth

    Thanks for the up-to-date information on Teufelsberg – wanting the sun to come out so that I can eventually go!

    Reply
  82. Anonymous

    There was a man dropping objects to a guy below from the opening in the today to. There seemed to be quite a lot of noise. Didn’t approach the security as I wanted to keep low key

    Reply
  83. Team Canada

    Explored the towers on May 30th. Such an incredible experience! Paid 7€ for entrance and “tour”: It was TOTALLY worth it.

    We saw a couple get escorted out for sneaking in without paying. Meanwhile we signed the waiver, saw a lot of incredible graffiti and entered the echo chamber at the top of the highest tower.

    Check out this 360 Panorama of the inside of the echo chamber.
    360.io/HNkdBh

    My advice is to head over around mid-day and wait near the big green gate at the south west corner of the premises. It may be closed, but if you make some noise, someone will eventually come and let you in.
    Google maps: 52.49620773579617,13.239237113915692

    Enjoy…

    Reply
  84. Kayy

    sorry, I´m a little confused.. isn´t there any cance of getting in there without a guided tour? anybody any information about good times and places to sneak in?

    Reply
  85. Anonymous

    Im going in an eveneing and im certainly not paying. Just did Spree park tonight and it was great. Send me a msg. minimalbeats at live dot co dot uk

    ste c

    Reply
  86. Spudnik

    Thanks for throwing in your tuppence ha’penny worth! Seems like sensible advice.

    Reply
  87. Spudnik

    In other words, just give them their blood money…

    Reply
  88. Spudnik

    They’ve made it hard to sneak in without paying, so if there’s no other option, and you’re still determined to see it, then paying may be your only hope.

    Reply
  89. Spudnik

    Good luck!

    Reply
  90. Anonymous

    I worked there in the early 80’s as a linguist in the US Air Force. “I was an integral part of the US and worldwide communications network.” That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it… although I cannot confirm or deny that.

    Reply
  91. Spudnik

    Haha! Shrouded in secrecy…

    Reply
  92. Anonymous

    Just visited Monday and went round the whole perimeter trying to find somewhere to sneak in, but any previous holes have been patched up with barbed wire, more fencing etc. Tried pulling at the patching but to no avail. As we were wandering round, saw two guys inside and asked them about getting in. They told us about a tour and to carry on going to the gate, said they worked for the place by clearing up. (had wheelbarrows full of bottles/debris etc) They didn’t look very official just a bunch of guys making a cheap buck.
    When we got to the gate there was a painted sign, stating the place was patrolled by security, police would be called if you tried to sneak in. We tried to barter with the guy on the other side, asking for a quick 5minutes but told it was “unsafe” without guide.

    Reply
  93. Anonymous

    Continued from above)
    We decided to come back later and pay €7 with our tour guide” (a shirtless guy in shorts with no shoes who did answer questions)
    The place was amazing and although couldn’t explore the whole site went up the main tower and experienced the spectacular acoustics in the big dome. Whilst there didn’t see any security as such and appears people are living there as we asked what a loud humming noise was, a generator, although he said that theoretically no one was living there.
    It’s a shame that it seems unlikely you can explore on your own but still an amazing experience and would definitely recommend it. From reading other comments on this blog, it seems that this a good money maker for those are occupying it and will probably remain difficult to sneak in.

    Reply
  94. Spudnik

    Thanks for your comment. Yeah, I wrote about the goons now charging money to get in and see the place in two other separate posts. You’re right – it’s a good money-maker for those occupying it

    Reply
  95. Alex

    Somebody apparently rents it from the developer who wanted to build luxury apartments. There are guys who wander around the perimeter all day so even if you bring your own cutters and cut the fence, odds are they will fix it and notify security before you have a chance to leave. If you want to tag some walls there you can send them an email and you can go in for free to add your art to the wall.
    A lot of the holes in the floor in the main building has been fixed, debris swept out and lights added. It feels a lot different now and a little more safe than it did before any work had been done – basically it loses its creepiness factor which is partly why you go to abandoned places.
    The tower is still really cool and while I don’t like paying, I would still recommend trying to check it out.

    Reply
  96. Spudnik

    Cheers Andrew. I wrote about the people renting it from the owner in another post. I agree – it’s not as good with the goons around, but probably still work checking out if you haven’t been before.

    Reply
  97. Anonymous

    Actually the demand to visit the station is so high they now offer guided tours.

    Reply
  98. Unknown

    i was there last october i visited some friends that live there and took us there, the place is great its nice to see a place like that out of the ordinary in Berlin, but to get in we had to pay some Gipsies to let us in, i think they charged us 5 euros per person, they didn’t let us walk around alone, this tall muscular guy escorted us throughout the place he look very scary and serious but he was nice he told us about the graffiti and what the place was used for, it was a great experience!!

    Reply
  99. Spudnik

    Cheers Raul. Glad you enjoyed it despite the money-makers and visitor-shakers.

    Reply
  100. T.H.E. Hill

    The new elevation measurement for Teufelsberg from April 2013, taken with GPS technology, is 120.1 meters.

    Construction of the first permanent SIGINT facility on Teufelsberg, the operational home of Field Station Berlin, began in October 1963. The fiftieth anniversary of the shift from mobile to fixed operations on Teufelsberg, is being marked by a special Commemorative issue of Cinderella Stamps. The designer is T.H.E. Hill, the award winning author of two novels about Field Station Berlin.

    The first day of issue of the Cinderella Stamps is 25 September 2013. The stamps will be presented during the Field Station Berlin Veterans’ Reunion in Berlin, as a part of Irish sculptor Brendan Jamison’s “Teufelsberg” show in Berlin’s WerkStadt Gallery (Neukölln), 5-28 September 2013. The unveiling of the stamps will take place at WerkStadt on Wednesday September 25 at 2pm (14:00). This is a free event that everyone is welcome to attend.

    The anniversary is also being marked by the presentation of a memorial plaque to Dipl.-Ing. Hartmut Gruhl of Gruhl &amp; Partner Architekten, the owners of Teufelsberg, with duplicates for Berlin’s Allied Museum and for display in Jamison’s exhibition.

    *****

    You can learn more about the Commemorative Stamps at:
    voicesunderberlin.com/Stamps5.html

    You can learn more about Brendan Jamison’s exhibit at:
    brendanjamison.com/teufelsberghome.html

    You can learn more about the Field Station Berlin Commemorative Plaque project at:
    voicesunderberlin.com/FSB_Plaque.html

    You can learn more about Hill’s Tberg novels at:
    voicesunderberlin.com/

    Reply
  101. Anonymous

    I’m in Berlin at the moment. Really fancy a visit to Teufelsberg but I don’t want to spend my limited time in Berlin going there to find the place closed and unable to have a look around. Anyone knows if they are only letting people in at specific times/days and if so, when is that?

    Reply
  102. Spudnik

    They have tours at weekends. If you go during the week the thugs will demand €8 for a “tour” but you won’t get as much historical information as you would on a real one, which would cost €15.

    Reply
  103. Anonymous

    I have just been on the tour today with my husband and friends it cost us £15 . It started at 1pm Sunday and finished at nearly 3pm but we were all very pleased to have done it .

    Reply
  104. Spudnik

    Fair enough! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting us know about your experience.

    Reply
  105. Unknown

    andrejrusskovskij.com/?p=439
    analog pics taken @ teufelsberg in January 2013

    Reply
  106. Spudnik

    Nice pics man. You’re building up quite a little series!

    Reply
  107. Unknown

    Thank you very much for twittering the link, I really do appreciate it!

    Reply
  108. Anonymous

    Hi
    Well this is an interesting read.
    I worked at T’berg in the last 1980’s. Lots of memories.
    There were Grunnie Pigs. One wrote a friend’s car off one night on the Strasse.
    One had piglets right next to the main gate, the Americans provided straw bales to protect them, or protect us from the mother!!
    The Facility the American eatery was a novelty. Some strange combinations. Root beer!
    Wish I had gone there when I was back in Berlin in August last year. One the list to visit next time.
    JANE

    Reply
  109. Spudnik

    Hey Jane,
    I’d love to hear more from you if you’d be interested in sharing your stories. Please get in touch!
    IB

    Reply
  110. Anonymous

    So! We made our way to the top, quite surprised by the security hanging round the main entrance. Weve been discussing the entrance fee and so on…its all weird, these guis look like full-time junkies, guy who was guiding us was kind of shaking and during all the “guide” he said about 20 words in total. Guys occupying the main entrance are claiming theyre actually appointed by the company that owns the place, pointing at wasted board, where im supposed to find names of 2 architects, who own the place, and that 30% of the money goes to the investors, who own the place, who want to build there some luxury appartments (probably these two architects)really, in my opinion its just bunch of local smackheads seizing the opportunity. Such space should be freely accesible at your own risk. Really, instead of money, i recommend you to bring your fellas and knifes and guns and take over the place. Guys there, growing moss in between their teeth and shaking for another hit wont resist for too long i guess.

    Reply
  111. Unknown

    If you liked the first series, this one is even better 🙂 More analogue pics taken at Teufelsberg during last summer andrejrusskovskij.com/?p=591

    Reply
  112. Anonymous

    so, you tourists, you like to come to berlin and see those “special places”, but dont want to pay anything…
    yeah, thats totally berlin-tourist-style. come here, leave your dirt, be fancy, hate the locals, try to sneak in where its forbidden, take the stuff from abandoned places as a souvenir, complain about not englishspeaking (or whatever shitty language you speak) guards…well done! this is why berlin is going to be more and more ugly for the locals. you destroy what you want to experience.
    do you think they have guards for the handfull of berliners, who go there once in their lives? or maybe because a shitload of tourists come here every single day and dont want to pay a fucking buck and leave there marks (johnny was here) and steal things?

    think about.

    Reply
  113. Spudnik

    Yes, the tourists are everything wrong with this beautiful city. If only there were no tourists, what a wonderful place it would be! No more stealing (because only tourists steal, right? They don’t contribute anything at all), no more complaining (because Berliners never complain about anything), no more vandalism (because only tourists destroy what they see) and no more hate for the locals (oh how they despite the locals!) when all the locals offer in return is love and affection…
    You sir/madam, are an idiot.
    Think about.

    Reply
  114. Anonymous

    Umm..we too have Grunie Pigs. Fed many of them as a kid.

    Reply
  115. Anonymous

    I was at teufelsberg 19 72-1975 German and Russian lingie it was high adventure to me. I feel like Berlin is my hometown met so many nice german people
    is my home town. I met so many nice German people

    Reply
  116. Anonymous

    Went here last summer, yes, there are people charging an entrance fee at the door, but its totally worth it! Take the fun out of ‘sneaking in’, but its a beautiful site so we didn’t mind.
    Here are a few photos I took:
    amazingplacesonearth.com/teufelsburg-germany/

    I suppose you could sneak in at night, but it’d be more difficult to see the beautiful grafitti murals etc. and take photos, if youre into that.

    I suggest going into the dome at the very top and scream as loud as you can, it echos like mad!

    Reply
  117. Anonymous

    We went there yesterday – amazing – you could hurt yourself really easy and badly, so appreciated the guides. If they are squatting the place then it’s theirs to charge entry if they want. Thanks Alex.

    Reply
  118. Spudnik

    Incredible logic. It’s a site of historical importance. I’m sure you’d think differently if they were squatting your house.

    Reply
  119. Unknown

    Went there today and the fence is pretty solid all the way around and it sounds like there are a number of people inside at most hours of the day. Pretty tight operation but you could get over the main gate as long as you’re not seen. The run tours for 7 euro from 1200 until sundown, and 15 euros for a “Historical Tour”..whatever that means. Seems like a bunch of hypocrite punks trolling what could be a very cool site

    Reply
  120. Anonymous

    Went there last Sunday, very early. I succeed to enter by a very little space between the ground and the down of the first gate, the other gates were disemboweled. Amazing site, with a beautiful view, ideal to have a picnic. I spent two hours and a half there. I had some luck : when i came out from the site, i passed in front of the main entrance : the tour was beginning.

    Reply
  121. From Spain

    Me and my boyfriend are going to Berlin in a couple weeks and we’d love to visit this place. I’m glad to see there are pretty recent comments here from people who had a good experience.
    Only, i have a couple questions… If we get to Grunewald through the S-Bahn, is it rather easy to find the place? How much time does that take?

    Thanks for a great post and blog! Cheers!

    Reply
  122. Leah C.

    Thanks for the post. We went today. The situation now is that you MUST be part of a tour and pay 15 euro. (Tell them you’re a student and just show any ID and you’ll get in for 8 euro.) It’s an overall shady situation and angered me. We were on a tour with about 50 other people. The guide was nice enough, and said he’d give English explanations as well. But then he didn’t. He seemed to think that was funny.

    Reply
  123. Anonymous

    So is it worth to go there now? I have only been there 4 years ago, and made a grill, drunk a beer and enjoyed the view.. Is it still like that? Or you must do a tour, and than leave?

    Reply
  124. Spudnik

    I’m afraid those days of simply enjoying the view with a beer are gone. They were good while it lasted – too good. Someone saw an opportunity to make money and swooped in. Still, you never know what may happen in future.

    Reply
  125. Anonymous

    Hello,
    I hope my message find you well
    I think such Teufelsberg (Abandoned spy station) , should be attract more people and tourists from all over the world if you perform for example a restaurant / bar as the view will be wonderful in the evening in this area
    Try to perform this idea as soon as possible, and i have my good idea to develop this project
    Thank you for all

    Reply
  126. Anonymous

    I have just returned from Berlin with my mum and dad (6th August 2014) and we went to visit this place and would like to say dont believe all the rumours of Stasi style security and con artist tour guides it is all a myth. It may have been the case a couple of years ago but the site is occupied by an artist commune with the agreement of the owners who are an architect consortium and allow them to produce their works of art on the walls etc of the compound. Other artists were entering and leaving the site with spray cans and using the masses of wall space with their graffiti art.

    The 3 of us were under the same impression that it would be impossible to get into the site preparing ourselves to give a ‘back-hander’ to any security on site but it wasn’t needed at all. We walked up the winding footpath as couldn’t trace the main road from the tourist map and then followed the perimeter fence round to the gate. There was plenty of holes crudely patched up with bits of barbed wire and scrap metal and on approaching the gate a young art student greeted us.

    He opened the gate and charged 7 euros each and gave us a quick rundown of who he was and who was on the site and walked us to a tour that had only just started. The actual tour guide was very good and stated that they had met the owners and he bascially liked what they were doing with the place as it was giving it a sort of ‘edge’ with the all the graffiti etc and set up a deal for them to occupy the site legititmately in return for keeping the fences secure and making sure no one breaks in and causes damage. It was far from your old style school trips he let everyone walk around whilst giving a rundown of what happened where with full access to the towers and listening dombs and all their artwork and sculptures.

    He furtther stated that even though the site can’t be developed at the moment and basically has to stay like it is for the foreseeable futures the owners still have had plenty of offers from investors wanting to buy it for well over what they paid for it.

    Unfortunately due to the site having no running water or power and lack of torches he was unable to take us down to the underground tunnel systems that are apparantely all still in tact that linked up the buildings.

    We had plenty of time to take photos walk round with very little restrictions and even though there was no uniforms or what looked like complete lack of authority it was carried out in a very professional manor. I can 100% recommend this tour so you don’t need to take bolt cutters or machetes to cut through the woodland in order to find an easy way through the fence. Just walk up to the gate see one of the students/volunteers and they’ll do the rest all completely legal and above board.

    As we walked out another group of people were waiting and a dutch family had a car which they opened the gate fully to allow them to park on the site.

    Hope this helps to quash any rumours and ‘urban legends’ of gaining access to this superb example of history.

    Reply
  127. Anonymous

    I second the comments from August 6. I was at Teufelsberg on Tuesday, August 5. I took the M49 bus to Flatowalle and walked through the forest and hiked/scrambled up the hillside. It was little bit spooky approaching the site this way. Don’t come this way. Just go to the Heerstrasse S-bahn stop and walk on the Teufelsseestrasse. It’s paved. You can even drive to the site, there’s a parking lot on Teufelsseestrasse. It’s about a 1 km walk from the Heerstrasse stop.

    When I got to the main gate there were some older German guys who were fairly nice, took my 7 Euros, stamped me on my hand and I waited for the next tour. A nice lady took us around most of the site, including the main building under the big tower, then the level with the two.. spheres.., and also up to the top of the tower. It was very interesting. She told us the history of the site as well as what is being done to preserve it. The acoustics in the dome/sphere on top of the tower are amazing, as are the views from the different levels. We also went a bit into the office (?) area in the bottom of one of buildings. There’s not much left besides the walls in the buildings. There are some hippie/artist types who I think live and work on the site. It is really a great experience, especially if you are interested in Berlin history.

    Long story short, sorry it’s not really a place to sneak into anymore. You could, but it’s not worth it. The “caretaker/guards” are a little scruffy but harmless. Just pay the 7 Euro and take the tour. Maybe do it sooner rather than later. I just read in the news that part of the Spreepark site burned down; I suppose it’s possible that something similar could happen at Teufelsberg.

    Reply
  128. Spudnik

    Put it this way: It was free for all to visit, enjoy the views and roam at will. Now there are people charging admission.

    The guys doing the charging have permission to do so under the pretext of securing the place, so that should prevent any fires à la Spreepark.

    If you’re happy to do a tour and you feel it’s worth it, go ahead.

    Reply
  129. Anonymous

    I was there with some friends last weekend and we were obediently waiting for the tour. When we sat there some guy climbed over the fence (it looked really hard and dangerous so I tought he did a good job getting over). Within 10 minutes he got caught by the guy “in charge”. And then the weirdest thing happened: the guy ‘in charge’ got mad at us for not stopping the guy. He asked if we tought the place was abandoned and that it’s a crime in Germany when you break in blablabla. We basically ignored him because he was being unreasonable. When the tour started he made us fill in a form/sign a contract that was written in German. So we all (everyone) filled it in with fake names. So he got mad about that saying that he was responsable for us. And then he said something really weird: He told us that ‘if something happened the German law wouldn’t accept some dumb contract, that he would be responsable anyway’. So why make us fill out a form/sign a contract?? Anyway after he ranted a few minutes about it and then the ‘tour’ started. The tour was more ranting about that it was a private property where a few people a day broke in and that these people were dumb blablabla. He showed us some graffiti at which he was really proud, told us every two minutes: ‘don’t fall in love with it, it might be gone tomorrow, take pictures now’. Also he was constantly nagging about that they didn’t have enough money to do something with the place. He hardly told us anything about the building itself.

    But we got to get to the top of the tower. The accoustics there were great and the view was amazing. Only that made it worth the trip.

    Reply
  130. Anonymous

    Hi, Mick! My and I were US Army Russian linguists at Teufelsberg in the 70’s and remember you (at least we think it’s you, I only remember one “Mick”).

    Reply
  131. Anonymous

    I worked on ‘the Hill’ from summer 1976 to summer 1978. I belong to a closed Facebook page for Field Station Berlin veterans and the overriding theme is how much all of us loved our work and the beautiful city and people of Berlin. The fact that Teufelsberg was abandoned and in a state of disintegration is actually a testimony to its success, but those of us who spent so much time tucked away inside that building have bittersweet feelings as we see what is left of one of the most vital outposts of the Cold War.

    Reply
  132. Anonymous

    The tour thing is fucking annoying. Get me right: I understand that this is a great thing that people can enjoy this amazing site, and that it’s a good idea that people exploit it commercially and take care of the place but it’s just badly organized and understaffed.

    There are 2 options: a 1 hour «silent tour» for 7 euros that take you to the rooftop, and a 15 euros 2 hours «historical tour» with a guide that explains stuff. I got there at 3h10, and was told that the next tour leaves at 3h30. It took me a while (disclaimer: I don’t speak german) to figure out that it was the historical tour, and that the guide was mostly going to speak in german. So, basically, useless to me. The 1h silent tour (aka the tour for non-german speaker) only started at 4h.

    So I had to wait 50 minutes for a 60 minute visit, which barely make sense. I don’t think there is a website or a FB page that list the tour schedule (only said «12h to 19h on the chalkboard at the entrance). If yes, please share it, for the next visitors.

    And the poor guy that was making us pay had to open the door for cars, manage the people waiting for different tours, answer everyone’s questions, and even run around catching a boar that was trying to escape. He was also low on change, with people waiting for others to pay to get their change back. And he was also the one that took us to the towers. The whole thing was confusing, inefficient and unpleasant.

    Teufelsberg became a popular/familial touristic attraction. The service should reflect that, and be on the level of other tours available in the city (since it’s charging similar money for it). For a start: Have bilingual guides (so non-german tourist can do the historical tour as well), list the tour’s schedule online, have a light and mobile non-cash payment system (like Square).

    PS: I think there is a argument that could be made that this place shouldn’t be considered «abandonned» anymore, since people live there, or at least do during the summer. But re-purposedberlin.com isn’t as catchy, I guess.

    Reply
  133. Spudnik

    I hear what you’re saying, but it was abandoned as a military facility, from its original purpose, so I’d still consider it “abandoned” and worth documenting, even if there are people now squatting there and making money out of it.

    Reply
  134. Anonymous

    Stay Home… the Securty kick your ass 😉

    Reply
  135. Anonymous

    Holy Shit !!!
    there are al lot of Hells Angels Members at night, sie zerficken eure fressen wenn ihr faxen macht, ramdulah!

    Reply
  136. Anonymous

    we are all so frightenened about your scum bro’s, my dear… and we wait to see your fellow assholes kicked out by berlin admininistration, when they’ve bought back the area… so, you can read it in todays papers. if *you* can read 🙂

    Reply
  137. Anonymous

    went on the €7 tour. v pleasant young lady who spoke English as well. strangest thing was the ‘guard’ on the gate used to work there 20-25 years ago when I did. obviously new employers now! anyone remember the chilli dogs they served in the canteen? strange to wander round now. loved working there though I saw more of the place on this visit than I ever did working there. Used to have a good laugh with the US Guards about the WLAF and the World Champion London Monarchs. but mainly we kept well apart. spams told not to mix with the brit squaddies and probably for good reason seeing the infantry guys down at Spandau. looking out now from the tower over towards the brit married quarters on Tharaurer Allee, couldn’t help remembering the time 25 years ago next week and the excitement of the ‘end of history’! still love the place

    Reply
  138. Anonymous

    November 2014.
    Walked up to the old NSA station today.Gates are substantial and locked but security guy with guard dog/s welcoming. Joined informal ad hoc tour around 2pm . Got about 30/40 mins at 7 euro each to look around and climb up to the very top level. Take a torch as some of the stairwells are unlit. Graffiti art is almost as interesting as the buildings and the views. Don’t complain about the fee, it’s not a lot and no-one stifles you with health and safety. Fully recommended.

    Reply
  139. Unknown

    An illustration in tribute to my visit here which also references this site. artconnectberlin.com/profiles/screpnekstudios/projects/teufelsberg

    Reply
  140. Luxury Apartments Guy

    Some of the graffiti is truly astonishing, what a fascinating insight into an abandoned building

    Reply
  141. Anonymous

    Clearly we had the same “guide” in August. I just figured he was impaired and took it with a grain of salt. He was not at all helpful as far as history and acted as if we should pay more to get any information. Regardless, a fascinating visit.

    Reply
  142. Anonymous

    I think we do a big party soon there….. stay tuned….. hahahahahhaha…..

    Reply
  143. @DeadGull

    Anotrgher sketchy ‘phone film’ from my visit to Teufelsberg last year vimeo.com/94172588

    Reply
  144. Anonymous

    People forget that also it was a British station. I worked there for many years, really enjoyed it, very sad to see it in
    such a state. Should have been converted into a museum.
    Suppose some of the graffiti is apt, but Berlin is covered in graffiti obviously done by some mindless people
    who have nothing better to do. Such a shame to see it on what was a beautiful clean city (West)

    Reply
  145. Spudnik

    Nobody forgot! I wrote that the British and Americans cooperated on their spying programs. But I think the GCHQ is happy to let the NSA take all the heat, no? They managed to duck out of the debate a little more easily than the Americans after the Snowden revelations.
    I agree that it should be preserved as some sort of museum – it’s important to remind people of the past so they’re better prepared for the future. Maybe one day, if the city ever gets its act together…

    Reply
  146. Anonymous

    We went down there yesterday (around 12 o’ clock).
    There were 3 layers of complete fencing running round the perimeter and a woman at the entrance with 2 big dogs.
    Needless to say we paid to get in and spent an hour or two following another woman around who basically led us to the main buildings and left us to take photos (you have to go with the “Tour Guide”, they didnt give any other option).
    She answered a few questions people posed to her (the same info thats on Wikipedia really).
    Obviously it is a cool place (also on the way there we walked through the woods a bit and ended up at the “Drachenberg” which was also cool).

    Reply
  147. Dan

    you can ask me any Qs on teufelsberg. I run the art side of things there. The issues above is why break in? simply go through the gate and take your time. I am there every 2 weeks (inlcuding just getting back and there again in a fortnight). you can hit me up at [email protected] or @teuflesberg_berlin

    Reply
  148. Toydoll

    Does anyone know if you’re allowed to walk freely on the area if you pay the entrance fee? People seem to have different experience on the matter.

    Reply
  149. Ben Stainer

    I went to the spy station on a whim from my university group.
    Amazing place and excellent directions, when I was there I heard several bits of shouting from the inner organs of the main facility. After climbing up onto the top, It was apparent that it was in fact a school group, roaming around the facility. I have no idea what they were doing there, but it was awesome to say the least. Climbing down was sketchy as hell, but No problems with security, but I was most likely extremely lucky.
    Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  150. Ekko

    ‘As one Teufelsberg veteran put it: “There is some irony in German anger over spying. Presumably, they had no headache when the Soviet bear and its cubs were being watched in order to keep them at bay.”’

    Well, that’s not entirely the truth, as lots of (non-gdr-)germans have been spied on as well, during that time and lots of them were pretty pissed when that went public. There’s plenty of documentation around, looking into the good old industrial espionage etc. (I can’t imagine anyone letting that opportunity pass, though.)

    Reply
  151. Yvonne Davidson

    My father worked there in the 60s &amp; 70s
    Lived in Berlin 62-76 apart from 3 yrs x

    Reply
  152. Anonymous

    DANGEROUS: i am currently waiting in a hospital waiting room because two of my friends were attacked by dogs on the premises. We got over the fence in a good climbing spot, but didnt get far before a large group of dogs ran at us. If you go with a tour they wont attack. However, the people there were such assholes about it. The guy yelled at us instead of getting his dog off my friend. I froze and wasnt bitten but i think this was just luck. These dogs were clearly trained to attack people not part of the tour group. The people there were blaming us for it and didnt apologize once, although they did have a guy take us to the hospital. The woman said she didnt have time for this. Well, dont train attack dogs if you dont have time to deal with people being attacked! Terrible people who run it. They didnt care if we were hurt at all. All they care about is money.

    Reply
  153. Unknown

    They were charging to get it in, a lot of people were complain about the entrance fee!! Does anyone know if they are allowed to charge as they seem not to have any tourism credencial.

    Reply
  154. Anonymous

    Achtung, Achtung, Sehr gefählich/ very dangerous
    we jump up the fences with a friend and another “explorer” and I had to go to the hospital because I was attacked by (5 dogs); clearly trained to attack people.
    a security guard came, and instead of trying to stop the dog from ripping my leg off, he just yelled “ur a bunch of idiots”; if another “explorer hadn’t be there to help me, idk if I’d be able to walk anymore.
    then, someone drove us to the hospital and told us, in a casual way, that we had been lucky, that he had seen way worse and that it happened a lot that people jumping up the fence, got attacked by the dogs. and he confirmed that the dogs were trained to attackt small group of people.
    we told him that they maybe should have a sign saying that dangerous dogs are inside, and he said that they kind of have signs for it, before admitting that they actually had none.
    And they were pretty scared that we’d involve the police…
    P:S. I love animals and I don´t think that that was the dogs fault; it’s the trainers fault.
    and Itsme Godoym , I’m asking the myself the same question about the legality about them charging for the entrance…
    something is fishy there

    Reply
  155. Anonymous

    I want to see teufelsberg so bad but have so far had no luck.

    The first time in 2013 I hurt my foot and had to turn back, and I tried again this June, but got totally lost in the forest, stumbled upon a nudist colony, and then ended up on a cycle path running alongside the autobahn, with a dead phone. After three hours of walking – in the wrong direction(thanks to alot of wrong directions!) a lovely couple offered to drive me back to the train station. (If you are reading this, Kai and Ricardo – thank you so much, i’ve looked for you online to say thanks but had no luck!)

    Note to everyone attempting this – make sure you take a printed map, do NOT trust iphones map, and make sure your phone is completely charged before going just in case you need it!

    Reply
  156. Markus

    Hi, I have to say I really like your site!

    I went (in)to Teufelsberg facility a few times, first in 2005 by chance as I came to the facility a few days after a computer game release party (Metal Gear Solid 3) – the area was quite open (I even saw families with babys going in etc.). Shortly after in the same year it got secured by a security company which was repairing the fence as mad every time when there was a new hole. So I took the official way and was lucky – I got the permission of the owner and even the “Bezirksamt Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf” for a whole day and got the keys from the security company – that was December 2005.

    I went there a few more times (without permission then) until end of 2006. Once you are in it is quite easy to hide, because the buildings are all connected together (the personnel never had to go outside – only for lunch!). But even in these days, most of the remaining technical facilities (air condition, document incenrator etc.) were already wrecked by dumb people.

    But as I have seen, it got even worse now, also the towers etc. are no more covered, so I wonder what is still left. There is a quite interesting site report from CCC (Chaos Computer Club) showing the facility in a quite good state (apparemtly from the early 2000ies):

    dasalte.ccc.de/teufelsberg/

    Also there is an interesting video of someone who actually worked there:

    media.ccc.de/browse/congress/2014/31c3_-_6585_-_en_-_saal_2_-_201412282145_-_inside_field_station_berlin_teufelsberg_-_bill_scannell.html#video

    I heard also about interesting stories about weird security “guards” and people who apparently lived there in the past. But as the condition of the whole site is really bad now, I am not sure if it is still worth going in while risking trouble with the security (or even paying for it). You can find many pictures in the internet of it under better condition.

    To go there is quite easy: Follow the Teufelsseechaussee almost until end and then follow the way right into the wood, best checked in Google Maps before.

    Reply
  157. kathrin

    I was there last sunday and we did the official (silent) tour for 7 €. I think its an ok price for not jumping over the fence or getting bitten by a dog. And kids up to 14 are free!
    So, to the place, just 3 words: I was stunned. The view is amazing and as it was pretty windy, it was quite spooky. Combined with the really rotten (and quite dangeous) place and really phantastic graffities, I put this on my todo-list with all my next visitors!

    Reply
  158. kathrin

    … oh and for those who asked what youll see on the tour: It was a busy sunday and there were several groups. We got up to the roof (more or less) together, but we stayed much longer (about 2 hours) and meanwhile there was nobody around, so if you are lucky you could maybe sneak around a bit. But to be fair, the tower and the way to there is definitly the highlight and most pictures I was from this place, you’ll see on the way there.

    Reply
  159. Anonymous

    I was there on Sunday with my boyfriend (we jumped the fence). We were approached by an angry girl who claimed we needed to pay 7 Euros for a tour. Frankly we believed that she was a squatter/didn’t have the right to charge and the ‘tour group’ that she was with also looked unofficial. Anyway we agreed we would pay 7 Euros each if that meant we could have a good look around. She agreed, took the money and lead us towards what we believed to be the start of the tour.

    However, she then tried to make us leave without looking around. We said we would need to have our money back if we couldn’t look around. She got nasty, locked the gate and threatened to call the police who she claimed would charge us 100 Euros. We welcomed her to call the police and managed to get our money back.

    We waited for the police to arrive, but instead two men in a black car turned up who were clearly NOT police. The one guy got out and gestured at his belt in a threatening manner, and at this point it was clear a scam was going to take place where they would try and get us to give them 100 Euros (or they would rob us for it). As the front gate was locked, we walked back the way we had come and ran back to the gap in the fence and jumped over.

    We heard the car chasing us, but luckily we made our way into the forest without them following. It was clear they would have jumped us had they got to us. Anyway fast forward to yesterday (1st september) and apparently the squatters who are giving ‘tours’ have been evicted from the site. The new tenant is Marvin Schutte who apparently said the lease agreement with Abraham was “not respected”. Apparently Schutte wants a cafe, a beer garden and a gallery to be built, so it remains to be seen what happens to the site in the mean time….

    Reply
  160. Anonymous

    We went yesterday and it was a huge group that paid entry to get in to. Probably around 20 people. This sucked as there was virtually no tour (the guide claimed his english was bad) and every photo had other people in it. The spy tower is super cool though, and definitely recommend people to go visit it. Maybe plan to see it in the off-season for Berlin. You also get guided through each part rather quickly, so stand your ground and make sure you take the photos you want to take! You are paying money after all!

    Reply
  161. Adush

    so we went with friends today. we didn’t try to sneak in, we paid the 7E they wanted and it seems there’s no mafia or anything anymore. we had “a tour” which was led by a hungover guy commenting on random objects and “this graffiti is my favourite” and so on, nevertheless, he didn’t really give a shit and we could take pictures for as long as we wanted… although there was A LOT of people, which was quite surprising, as the weather was quite unstable today. anyway, it seems they are really trying to improve it, the graffiti is amazing and there’s very little rubble. the very dangerous places (I guess) are not accessible, but we saw all the cool places and I especially reccomend the top dome and its incredible acoustics.

    Reply
  162. Kitten of Doom

    Damn I’m glad I went before all this “tour” nonsense started!!!

    Reply
  163. Unknown

    hi since all of the above comments, it has now fallen back under the ownership of the owners, rather than the previous “lease holder” anyway things are all better now. In March we covered the place head to toe in art for Berlin Rising art festival.

    Reply
  164. Daniel Lee

    Hi everyone, has anyone gone there recently since the owners took it back? Was planning to go tomorrow. Does the 7 euro admission still apply?

    Reply
  165. Unknown

    Hi, planning to go there in the next days. Are there security or other?

    Reply
  166. Anonymous

    Just arrived in Berlin today, planning to check out a few abandoned places over the next few days; including the tower. I’m by myself so I’m trying to find someone to go exploring with.

    Reply
  167. Anonymous

    Visited today, the fence in itself was a work of art with all the makeshift repairs. We busted the fence open since I didn’t agree with paying money to feral squatters to visit a trashed site. The Dogs weren’t aggressive luckily. Most of the site has been stripped for scrap metal by the ferals. A shanty town has also been set up at the bottom. Worth a visit but don’t pay.

    Reply
  168. Anonymous

    Just to clarify, I don’t have a problem paying money if the site had been maintained however it’s nothing more than a street art display. No care had been made to preserve the internals of the building. Cheers

    Reply
  169. Anonymous

    Went there last monday. First went up the wrong hill with my bike, then I got up to the station from the steep side of the ‘mountain’ so I was quite tired once I got to the entrance. Paid a very friendly guy 7 eurp who knew also quite a lot about the station and just walked around. Saw some dogs but I couldn’t believe that they would hurt you if your enter without paying. Didn’t matter to pay since I was on my own and didn’t want to hassle with breaking in etc. Place is still really amzing! Though some places are cealed off like the old casino but heard there are some plans to do something with it?

    Reply
  170. Anonymous

    Hey folks, does anyone know about the situation at night? Dogs? Security?

    Reply
  171. Anonymous

    We went yesterday, it was absolutely great. The security staff were very friendly and helpfull (advised us where to park the car to avoid paying 500,-€ to the ranger) and let us in for 5,-€ each. The place was stunning and the view incredible. Be sure to bring a lamp to get up the highest tower as the stairwell is completely dark.

    Reply
  172. Anonymous

    We went a couple of days ago and all was extremely fine. The security was very friendly and helpful and all seemed organized and legal. Go there, it is worth the 7,-€ for sure.

    Reply
  173. RauhaBobby

    Hi, I would like to take pictures from the top, is it possible to enter all the way up with permission or not 🙂

    Reply
  174. Anonymous

    hello, i´m planning to go there but i´m still deciding how to do it.
    i already went there with the tour (onestly it was extremly bad).
    i want to go back there couse the place was incredible and i´d like to show it to a friend of mine.
    what i´d like to know is what could happen if security find someone inside and how difficoult is reach the top of the tower (i remember a nice graffiti and acostic effect there).
    Thank you!

    Reply
  175. Anonymous

    Hey Guys
    Im an 16 year old guy who lives in Berlin. Search some other guys with whom I can explore abandoned buildings in Berlin around the same age. If anyone is interested you can send me a email and we can talk about this more accurate 🙂
    email: einbauk[at]gmail.com
    cheers

    Reply
  176. Anonymous

    As a member of ISCOMM, I served at T-berg from 84-88. I was so glad to serve my country during the Cold War. We helped do our part in bringing sown the former Soviet Union.

    Reply
  177. Anonymous

    INSCOMM

    Reply
  178. Lynne Margaret Brown

    Hello I would like to do a video interview there about 30 minutes – 40 minutes. Can you tell me who I can contact or is it possible to just arrive to the gate and ask? Thank you kindly, Lynne Brown

    Reply
  179. Simon

    I went there a week or so ago and the €7 to get in. You have to sign your name and where you are from to imdemnify them from responsibility if you get hurt (or die!).
    Some awesome graffiti artwork can be seen.
    I started posting it on Flickr …
    flickr.com/photos/simotronics/albums/72157668493803742

    Reply
  180. Anonymous

    Yeah, I went there today, got charged 5 euros for a student ticket and had to sign the same thing. They do let you just wonder around on your own and you don’t have to go on a tour or anything, though it was still quite frustrating to be surprised with a charge.

    Reply
  181. Anonymous

    *wander

    Reply
  182. Anonymous

    Don’t know if you’ve been back but I’ve been there recently, you can get in through the gate with no problems if you’re prepared to pay €7 (€5 students). Aside from the rights and wrongs of paying, it is an amazing place and if you want to see it that much it’s worth it. There’s no “security”, you can spend as long as you like and you can access the top of the highest tower and the radome (acoustics are totally surreal!) but you’ll need a torch.

    Reply
  183. Dan McN

    Went here twice now.. I had asked if it were possible to enter the British part of the base which I believe is the most Southern facing building but I was told told that only the buildings which are open are available to explore….well that’s what they said…

    So after exploring the usual trek to the top of the dome in the main building and getting a few shots of the updated street art I headed around to the more intriguing part which is largely boarded up. I walked around between the two buildings and found some steps leading down to a huge blast door that had been removed from the hinges but was blocking the doorway, I was able to push it out of the way enough to gain access, into a basement area with some sort of steel tanks which sadly lead to a dead end but found a manhole cover leading to a shaft containing some sort of horizontal tubes for cables to run through.

    Coming back out a made a complete walk of the perimeter of this building and noticed a few open windows on the second floor but to hard to gain access, however a little further along I found a huge plywood sheet concealing another entrance to the building and moved it back slightly and had a quick peek inside….I saw a few wooden consoles with lots of green and red buttons? I can only assume these were part of the old casino and moved here for storage? I would have like to have entered the building but I think it would have drawn too much attention.

    Also concerning the main building….the stairs that run along the main lift shaft are blocked off at the first floor level, but I have seen photographs from the ground floor level that does in fact lead to an underground bunker system and some of the cold war NSA equipment still lays there partially intact!

    Reply
  184. LöL333

    It got featured in the end shot of a new TV series “Berlin Station” that has just aired yesterday.

    Reply
  185. Anonymous

    Does anyone have any updated information on how to enter without paying?

    Other than just money I am against paying to people who as I have heard do not use the money for anything but themselves.

    Reply
  186. Anonymous

    The only possible way is to watch the “guard”, and walk through the main entrance and down the ramp to the right when he goes to the toilet or is distracted by something (he blocks the path to the left). I managed to do it the first time as he was talking to someone, and ALMOST the second time but he turned just as I was almost out of sight. Just scope out the entrance area before and be patient, think solid snake breaking into a military base 😉 The only other way is take a pair of wire cutters because the 100s of holes in the outer fence seem to be closed up very quickly, could be lucky and find a fresh one if you walk around but it’s unlikely.

    Reply
  187. johanna0710

    Hi, we plan to do this tour on Nov. 2 which is a Wed. Would be very appreciative if you can recommend a tour group I can contact to book our slots as our schedule is pretty tight and we only have the afternoon for this purpose.
    Thank you in advance.

    Reply
  188. Anonymous

    People are paying to visit “the hill”? I spent over two years in the bunker known as sub-system papa listening to Soviet and other various communists send morse signals, and I never would have guessed that folks would pay to tour the place. Of course, if I would have known then what I know now, I’d have found a way to snag a piece of the wall 10 years before it came down.

    Reply
  189. Anonymous

    Support Teufelsberg Berlin. For more info about prices and tours visit:
    neue.teufelsberg-berlin.eu/

    Reply
  190. Unknown

    Would like to see this again. Stationed there 83-85 MP.

    Reply
  191. L'incertain regard

    I visited the location on 10.12.2016. Lot of visitors… Interesting place. More than other words my pictures: flic.kr/s/aHskNiN3Yt

    Reply
  192. Anonymous

    I was stationed there in electronic maintenance. I can assure you there was no undergroud bunker system. That is just an urban legend.

    Reply
    • JohnnyB

      True. There was no room beneath the field station for bunkers, because of the secret submarine pens that led to the Wansee 😉

      Reply
  193. Anonymous

    I was assigned to this station during 1976 – 1977 and trained here during 1968. I have never forgotten the view, especially on New Years Eve. If the walls could talk … what a story they would tell!
    wrg

    Reply
  194. Unknown

    I almost ended up there in the early 1980s. I’d been sent to the Dewfence Language Institute in Monterey, CA for a year long course in Russian, and was supposed to go yo either Augsberg or Berlin as an Army 98G, Voice Interceptor. after DLI and a stay at zft. Huachuca. But. I’d moved my household goods to Monterey myself, for which I got paid (a fraction of what the Army would have had to pay a moving company, and I put my motorcycle on the truck. Turned out motorcycles were considered Privately Owned Vehicles at the time, not household goods. Since the money was based on the weight, the forbidden motorcycle raised the weight MAYBE a couple hundred pounds, I got paid maybe 3 or 4 dollars too much, and that, in the Army’s view, was fraud. A 98G has to have an extremely high security clearance (beyond just Top Secret), and having commited fraud my clearance was revoked. Ironically, within a year they changed the regulation, and motorcycles became part of your household goods. I still ended up in Germany anyway, but in Heidelberg. When I got out of the Army and went to work for them as a civilian in ’87, I started going to Berlin about once a month, had a sort of girlfriend that lived in Kreuzberg about 3/4 of a block from the wall, but never bothered going to Teufelsberg. Left around April of ’89, just missing the wall coming down. Oh, well.

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      shouold have been a Kilo,

      Reply
  195. Anonymous

    I served there in ’79 and ’80 as part of INSCOM. A fascinating time. I ETS’d literally as Reagan took the oath of office in January ’81. I’m proud of whatever we did to set the stage for his successful demand six years later “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”, and for the airlift three decades earlier that kept West Berlin from being swallowed whole by the Soviet Union. What a city!

    Reply
  196. Anonymous

    This blog brought back so many memories of my time at T’berg as an American Army russian linguist from ’82 to ’87. Berlin will always be my favorite city in the world. Nd Kudamm the best street.

    Reply
  197. Dan McN

    So in the height of the Cold War with a nuclear threat it seems highly unlikely that a bunker system to protect staff and equipment was never installed? Urban myth perhaps? I have seen photographs of an underground storage area? A close friend who was also stationed there gave a closed tour a few years back.

    Reply
  198. Unknown

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    Reply
  199. Anonymous

    I was here two days ago and saw some amazing graffiti and art pieces, definitely worth a visit. Pictures below:

    wanderingwolfchild.com/2017/09/19/devils-mountain-abandoned-nsa-spy-base-teufelsberg-berlin/

    Reply
  200. Unknown

    This may have happened, but I was just there yesterday – and it is now owned and run by a set of people that encourage visitors!

    Check out my blog to see about our visit there.
    nynomads.com

    Reply
  201. Unknown

    Yes. There is no problem anymore!

    This may have happened, but I was just there yesterday – and it is now owned and run by a set of people that encourage visitors!

    nynomads.com

    Reply
  202. Anonymous

    Tuffelsberg was definitely a radar intercept site. The british have always been miles ahead of the world with radar. Americans were not stationed there permanently.
    I had a skill they did not have and worked there temporally for two weeks to fix the location of the military air ports. Just needs to be done once as they dont move much. lol

    Think of being able to see a air traffic controllers radar in Russia at the same time as the Russian air traffic controller with out their knowledge.
    Be respectful of the buildings and men tha worked 24/7 for your freedom.

    The Army security agency worked 7 miles fron there in the forest for the national security agency. one road in one road out,Our small site contained morse code intercept operators, cryptolgists, linguist,and radio direction finder for warsaw pact military and Russia and double agent spies.Our mission was military not civilian as today.

    All electronic signals are recorded.

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      Americans were not stationed there permanatly? really? i spent 4 years on the third floor, last time time i checked i am American. your post is amateur hour stuff

      Reply
      • Ken Orzel

        Isn’t that the truth. Some of these posters must be the same wankers you get on Twitter. They too know nothing.

        Reply
        • Spudnik

          Ken, be nice.

          Reply
  203. Simon

    Yeh, radar, my dad was working with radar at end of second world war. Sadly nowadays Gchq is used to do on it’s own people…

    Reply
  204. Anonymous

    Does anyone know when they plan to re-open the tower/roof access? I’m visiting Berlin in September and thinking of visiting Teufelsberg, but not if the towers still blocked.

    Reply
  205. Simon

    It is important to keep these monuments preserved as a permanent message about how desperate and cruel mankind can be.
    Be vigilant and observe new, modern day, acts of aggression against humanity and be sure to let the world know!

    Reply
    • Ken Orzel

      Worked there 62-64, froze my ass off during the winter of 63. Your comments are moronic. Much of what we did there has been moved to satellites no doubted. Agressions against humanity is pure woke bullshit. Do you think you’re enemies: Russia, China and the rest aren’t doing the same to us?

      Reply
  206. Anonymous

    April 2019 and the tower was closed by authorities. Basically you can only walk around the place and not eenter most buildings. Great potential but needs to be taken over by people who know how to develop a site like this. Don’t waste your time or money, limited views.

    Reply
  207. Anthony Elder

    before interpreting and analyzing their findings

    Reply
  208. Anonymous

    Lot of entitled people here who inexplicably get offended when they are caught breaking rules. Doesn’t really matter. The place has been allowed to turn into a shit pile. Broken bottles, trash everywhere. Real shame.

    Reply
  209. Anonymous

    Anyone know how it is now in 2020? Tours are cancelled and the whole thing is closed due to corona. Anyone tried to go and see if it is still guarded during the crisis?

    Reply
  210. Anonymous

    Nov 2020 – my friends and I got in through a hole in the fence. We walked around for a bit, but couldn’t find a way inside any of the buildings/towers. The place is guarded, we saw people driving around the site, and eventually we got caught and kicked out. Security guards were very friendly though. They said they are fixing all the holes in the fence now so it may become more difficult to get in

    Reply
  211. hjk

    My friends and I went there last week for hanging out but the front door is closed because of COVID-19. It seems like they also renew their website and tour program (check their page). Instead, we decided to go to Kladow Casino.

    Reply
  212. Anonymous

    T Berg 1981 to 1986, a lot of your assumptions are a bit off and some of the statements are wrong. “Always on Watch”

    Reply
  213. Anonymous

    “Thankfully this remained only a pseudo war that flattered to deceive and never came to fruition.” In speaking of the division of Berlin, one should not minimize the lives lost and altered all over the world where the west and ussr exported their conflict. These were not cold battles.

    Reply
    • Spudnik

      That’s true, and there’s certainly no intention to minimize the impact it had on anyone. The point was that it didn’t end in nuclear annihilation, which was the fear at the time.

      Reply
  214. StarkUrbex_

    Main building is opened since 2021. Not sure the high tower will ever open again (?) I went there in 2015 or something and the echo was amazing. Also the paintings. Every time I go it feels more touristic, but I love the golf balls so I can’t resist. Also many new paintings, miss the old astronaut with the 3D balloon. Go through the beautiful forest on a day when you are too tired to do some hard-core urbex. 🙃

    Reply
  215. StarkUrbex_

    I was here April 14th 2022. See comment below. 🙂

    Reply
  216. Heidi Robinson

    My father worked here for a tour of duty (or two). Had a security clearance, so he couldn’t talk about it. If he had been able to, I guess he would have told stories about what the Ruskies had for breakfast that morning.

    Reply
  217. Anonymous

    I worked at Tberg from 1980 to 1982. Enjoyed Berlin

    Reply
  218. Kiltro

    How is it lately…. I mean 2022 and if i´s easier to sneak in in autumn or winter?

    Reply
  219. Charles

    I was stationed on a USAF tropo-relay site just below the NSA site on Teufelsberg from mid to late 60’s. It was a great place to work. There was a ski lift not far from our site that we took advantage of in the winter.
    One incident sticks out in my mind. I was working the night shift when we were shocked by gun fire. We could see muzzle flashes from the guard towers at the NSA site up the hill. We grabbed our WW2 carbines (we were airman after all), and crawled under our communications van. A bit later we saw some figures approaching our site. We were prepared to fire when one of the figures shouted to us in English the they were part of a training exercise. They had forgotten to tell us about the exercise.

    Reply
  220. Devon

    Super fun place to visit. It’s visually stunning (and has great views) and really easy to access if you have €8. I believe it’s only open on weekends, and the only problem I had was that it was crowded and a little tough to get a photo without people in it. But still totally worth the visit!

    Reply

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