The History of Berlin's U8 U-Bahn │ Part 1 - Construction

The U8 is one of Berlin’s most important U-Bahn lines, but its history is anything but straightforward. From its construction to its role during the Cold War, this video explores how the line was built, the challenges it faced, and how it has evolved over the years. What went right? What went wrong? And what makes the U8 unique among Berlin’s subway lines?

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Sources (Parts 1-4)

- U8: Von Gesundbrunnen nach Neukölln, Axel Mauruszat & Alexander Seefeldt
- U-Bahn, S-Bahn & Tram in Berlin, Robert Schwandl
- Berlin U-Bahn, Brian Hardy

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Image Rights

All image rights are displayed on screen in addition to the below.

In order of appearance:

Tunnel & Bunker Orianienplatz/Dresdener Strasse

Schwebebahn Test Track
Berliner Architekturwelt, 1908, Public Domain

Berlin Potsdamer Bahnhof
Zeichnung von Emil Henning, gestochen von Carl Schulin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

First Electric Train
Siemens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Werner von Siemens, 1842
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Kaiser Wilhelm I
Wilhelm Kuntzemüller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Kaiser Wilhelm II, 1902
Studio of Thomas Heinrich Voigt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Kaiser Wilhelm II, 1905
Reichard & Lindner; publisher: Gustav Liersch & Co., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Bau der Hochbahn auf der Gitschiner Straße Ecke damaligem Sedanufer, heute Zossener Brücke Ecke Gitschiner Straße
Autor/-in unbekannt - Berlinische Galerie Scanned from Janos Frecot & Helmut Geisert: Berlin in frühen Photographien 1857–1913. Schirmer/Mosel, Munich 1984.

Untergrund bhf Spittelmarkt

Berlin Train Map 1907
de:Julius Straube, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Berlin Ringbahn 1877
Pyxlyst, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Schwebebahn Köln
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Portrait of Eugen Langen
Unbekanntge., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Wuppertal Schwebebahn Colour
Max Wipperling, Elberfeld, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Wuppertal Schwebebahn
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Construction Dresdener Strasse
“Berlin U-Bahn construction at Oranienplatz, 1915.” Source: Wikimedia Commons / Galerie
Bassenge. Public domain.

Wertheim Moritzplatz, 1914
Max Missmann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

[tdb]

I’m glad to see you are making proper videos now. I’m fascinated by the history of Berlin and collect a lot of GDR and Berlin-centric stuff (rather hard to find here in Australia, thank god for the internet…). I have subscribed 😊

[shealaking]

Video looks clean. Well done, sir! I've enjoyed your previous "tour" videos, and I believe this new format will work out for you as well! Cheers from Ontario, Canada!🙂

[mari]

Pleas do more like this one about other lines. The history of frem is fascinating 😊

[outer]

Great video man.
I absolutely love just padding about on the U-Bahn when I’m in Berlin.
Very few places make an impression on you the way Berlin does.
Such an amazing city.

[joshuabenjamin]

Thanks for the interesting content! Perfect length for the video as well! Watched this right before hopping on the U8 myself haha😅

[deawoodard]

Yeeees!!! tI am so glad you decided to create content here, as I am planning to get out of Meta platforms pretty soon! :D Perfect timing Jonny! :D I am also super excited about this U8 series... when I first moved here I found out that lots of people have a problem with this line lol I even went on a comedy show that jokes were heavily about Berliners and their boundaries about U8 hehehe are you going to cover this?!

[tioG]

Huge work Whitlam! I know how hard can be a research that big. You really deserve more than a thumbs up! Thank you so much for sharing all of your knowledge. I still hope we can meet for that bike ride (if it become real) in Potsdam these year (we spoke by e-mail a little while ago). Keep sharing and enlightening us! Greetings from Brazil

[Lenniitsch]

Hell yeah! Great video Jonny! U8 ist definitiv eine Hass-Liebe, freue mich schon auf die weiteren Videos

[antonnurwald]

Berline here, i'm loving this content! So much i didn't know, and i ride the U8 very regularly.

[Merrybandoruffians]

So glad you’re making these. I’ve been following your IG page for ages. So excited for the long form content!

[dguymusic]

Love it love it love it!! Thank you! ♥

[delilah.dax]

Great start Jonny👏Look forward to catching up with the rest of your YT vids. I rode the Schwebebahn in Wuppertal 35 years ago, when visiting my school pen friend (51 years and counting 😊) who lived nearby at the time. It's definitely an experience to be recommended. Even managed to get my very conservative parents to join me 🫣😂

[nattiliebt]

to say that I liked it, it would be just underrated. I LOVE IT! I follow you a bit longer on TT but Youtube is even cooler :) Thanx a lot for this great content

[annebraun]

German girl here watching your video before bedtime. Just really nice! Keep doing it. Maybe for better understanding put more illustrations in when you say like the line started here and extended to there then two years later to there… would be nice to follow this on a map. Anyway… pretty awesome… keep going!
Greets Anne

[JackooD]

This was fantastic! Love your work already and so so happy to see you doing longer form videos on Youtube! Can't wait for part two! :D

[PhotoSportiv]

starting watching your stuff on Insta, now on here! Cracking stuff Johnny!!

[superkaefer]

Awesome video man! I guess I have to take a tour from you as a new citizen here :D

[zaitsevvadym]

Wow, very nice video! I'm looking forward for the next videos in this series. And in the next series!

[DM-dqmh]

, great video, really like your presentation style, how about the U3 and the part built tunnels beyond Krumme Lanke, that don’t quite reach Mexicoplatz?

[MSportsEngineering]

I clicked on this video so fast. Welcome to YouTube.