On the edge of the Alexanderplatz in central Berlin, is the tallest structure in Germany and the second tallest tower in Europe; the “Fernsehturm” (television tower). Built between 1965 and 1969 by the GDR (German Democratic Republic) as a symbol of communist power, it serves several radio and television broadcast stations, and is visible throughout the city.
During the European Broadcast Conference, held in Stockholm, in 1952, the organization that coordinated frequency allocations throughout Europe, only issued two frequencies to the GDR because it had not been politically recognized by many members of the organization. This created tremendous difficulties for Berlin’s broadcasting efforts, as it needed a powerful, large broadcasting facility, at a sufficient height, in order to reach all corners of Berlin. As early as the time of the European Conference, the GDR’s Deutsche Post had been exploring where to put a television tower. By 1956, the original site it had picked out had to be abandoned because it was too close to Berlin’s Schonefeld Airport and would interfere with air traffic. During the succeeding years, various alternative sites were investigated, but no action was ever initiated on them because of the high cost of constructing the Berlin Wall at the same time.
In 1964, the German government “demanded” that a TV tower be built in a central location within Berlin, not only because it would offer the best broadcasting services, but also because it would provide a new publicity landmark for the communist led government. Thus, the choice of a location for the tower came down to a political decision.
Construction began in 1965, just on the edge of Alexanderplatz (next to St. Mary’s medieval church) following the demolition of a large portion of the historic center, and was completed by 1969. Eventually, the tower reached a height of 1,207 feet, making it the second tallest TV tower in the world (after the Ostankin tower in Moscow). With the fall of the GDR and the reunification of Germany, the new Federal Republic of Germany took control of the tower, leasing it out to private broadcasters.
Today, it is the tallest publically accessible landmark structure in Europe and sees, on average, 1.2 million visitors per year (because of safety issues in the event of an emergency evacuation, wheelchair visitors are prohibited from access to the upper portions of the tower). Due to its shape, locals have affectionately nicknamed it the “toothpick.”