The Wannsee

 

The public bath at Wannsee Beach in southwest Berlin is one of the largest in Europe and has been a popular destination since it opened in 1907. In its heyday, it attracted more than a million visitors annually. The fine sand of the 1,300-meter-long beach was brought in from the Baltic Sea at great expense: a small piece of the sea right in the middle of Berlin. The lake, which covers nearly three square kilometers, is part of the Havel River and is divided into Großer Wannsee and Kleiner Wannsee. Historically, the Wannsee holds dual significance: On the one hand, it was already a gathering place during the German Empire and the Golden Twenties for those seeking relaxation, the art scene, and the emerging middle class. On the other hand, it is closely linked to the dark past of National Socialism: In 1942, the so-called Wannsee Conference took place in a villa on the Kleiner Wannsee, where high-ranking Nazi officials organized the genocide of European Jews. Today, a memorial commemorates this site. Thus, the Wannsee combines natural idyll, recreational culture, and a turbulent history.

1 - Not far from the Wannsee on the Havel River lies PFAUENINSEL (“Peacock Island”), a nature park and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The white peacocks on the island are a special highlight.

2 - The actor HEINZ RÜHMANN (1902–1994) was an avid recreational athlete and spent a lot of time at Lake Wannsee. He is particularly known for being one of the first people in Berlin to try water skiing there.

3 - The poet HEINRICH VON KLEIST (1777–1811) took his own life at the Kleiner Wannsee together with Henriette Vogel. Today, the Kleist grave at this site serves as a memorial to his tragic end.

4 - The actress and singer CORNELIA FROBOESS (*1943) became a child star with the hit song “Pack die Badehose ein” (“Pack Your Swimsuit”)—a song that celebrates swimming at Lake Wannsee and made it famous throughout Germany.

5 - The Impressionist MAX LIEBERMANN (1847–1935) painted some of his most famous garden and lake scenes at his summer villa on Lake Wannsee. After 1940, Liebermann’s heirs were expropriated and his villa was sold; today it is a popular museum commemorating the artist’s life and work.

6 - Lake Wannsee is not only a place for relaxation but also a popular destination for SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS. Activities on the water include sailing, rowing, windsurfing, stand up paddle boarding, water skiing, and more.

7 - Numerous WATERBIRDS live on Lake Wannsee, bringing the shores and bays to life. These include the greylag goose, tufted duck, goldeneye, and goosander. Some of the birds are migratory, so the mix of species changes with the seasons.

8 - Naturism, or FKK (short for Frei-Körper-Kultur), originated in Berlin, among other places. Since the late 19th century, people in the Berlin area have enjoyed nude swimming: there are separate swimming areas for this purpose, including at Wannsee.

9 - A curious incident occurred at a Berlin swimming lake in 2020: A THIEVISH WILD BOAR stole a bag containing a laptop from a swimmer. The man gave chase completely naked; the scene was photographed by other swimmers and made it into various newspapers.

10 - The Wannsee has plenty of celebrity fans: Celebrity hairstylist UDO WALZ (1944–2020), who cut Angela Merkel’s hair among others, celebrated his 70th birthday at the beach.

Did you know …
… that the name “Wannsee” is derived from the Slavic “wanse/wansa” (= “viper”) and means “Viper Lake”?