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Coordinates: 52°34′1.6″N 13°11′50.42″E / 52.567111°N 13.1973389°E / 52.567111; 13.1973389
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Due to the very low outside temperature of {{convert|-20|C|F}}<ref name=bz50/> or {{convert|-25|C|F}},<ref name=sp/><ref name=tsp/>{{#tag:ref|The winter of 1946/47 was one of the coldest ever observed in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hungerwinter 1946/47|url=http://www.ndr.de/geschichte/hungerwinter166.html|publisher=[[Norddeutscher Rundfunk]]|language=German|accessdate=4 December 2013}}</ref> |group="note"}} three [[potbelly stove]]s had been put up inside the ''Karlslust'' in order to heat the place. At around 22:45, when the party was in full swing, a fire broke out at the wooden overhead beams,<ref name=sp/> which (as it was later determined) likely had been caused by the intense heat of the stove pipes.<ref name=tsp/> As the ''Karlslust'' had been used as a prison in the last months of the war in Germany, windows were barred and doors had been walled up.<ref name=sp/><ref name=tsp/> In the ensuing rush to the only exit, several people were trampled to death.<ref name=bz50/><ref name=sp/> After three minutes, the whole roof structure of the building was on fire.<ref name=sp/>
Due to the very low outside temperature of {{convert|-20|C|F}}<ref name=bz50/> or {{convert|-25|C|F}},<ref name=sp/><ref name=tsp/>{{#tag:ref|The winter of 1946/47 was one of the coldest ever observed in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hungerwinter 1946/47|url=http://www.ndr.de/geschichte/hungerwinter166.html|publisher=[[Norddeutscher Rundfunk]]|language=German|accessdate=4 December 2013}}</ref> |group="note"}} three [[potbelly stove]]s had been put up inside the ''Karlslust'' in order to heat the place. At around 22:45, when the party was in full swing, a fire broke out at the wooden overhead beams,<ref name=sp/> which (as it was later determined) likely had been caused by the intense heat of the stove pipes.<ref name=tsp/> As the ''Karlslust'' had been used as a prison in the last months of the war in Germany, windows were barred and doors had been walled up.<ref name=sp/><ref name=tsp/> In the ensuing rush to the only exit, several people were trampled to death.<ref name=bz50/><ref name=sp/> After three minutes, the whole roof structure of the building was on fire.<ref name=sp/>


Realizing the extent of the fire, several of those that had already escaped returned to retrieve their winter clothing from the wardrobe.<ref name=bz50/><ref name=sp/> This behavior was later met with a lack of understanding by the British authorities, but can be attributed to the tensed supply situation in post-war Germany, where people were living on [[ration stamp]]s.<ref name=sp/> Eventually, the roof of the ''Karlslust'' collapsed, burying those still inside.<ref name=sp/>
Realizing the extent of the fire, several of those that had already escaped returned to retrieve their winter clothing from the wardrobe.<ref name=bz50/><ref name=sp/> This behaviour was later met with a lack of understanding by the British authorities, but can be attributed to the tensed supply situation in post-war Germany, where people were living on [[ration stamp]]s.<ref name=sp/> Eventually, the roof of the ''Karlslust'' collapsed, burying those still inside.<ref name=sp/>


===Fire response===
===Fire response===
The first firefighters (of the British Army) arrived at the scene 15 minutes after the fire had broken out. Summoning firefighters was difficult at that time, because there was no standardized [[emergency telephone number]]: Each fire station had to be notified separately.<ref name=tsp/><ref name=bz60/> The freezing temperatures and the snow-covered area hampered the firefighting efforts.<ref name=sp/><ref name=tsp/> In an attempt to rescue those trapped inside the collapsed building, three<ref name=bz50/> or six<ref name=sp/> British soldiers died. A few guests of the ''Karlslust'' could indeed be pulled out of the debris; they had found shelter in the cellar.<ref name=sp/>
The first firefighters (of the British Army) arrived at the scene 15 minutes after the fire had broken out. Summoning firefighters was difficult at that time, because there was no standardized [[emergency telephone number]]: Each fire station had to be notified separately.<ref name=tsp/><ref name=bz60/> The freezing temperatures and the snow-covered area hampered the firefighting efforts.<ref name=sp/><ref name=tsp/> In an attempt to rescue those trapped inside the collapsed building, three<ref name=bz50/><ref>"Fire In Berlin Dance Hall." Times [London, England] 10 Feb. 1947: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 6 Dec. 2013.</ref> or six<ref name=sp/> British soldiers died. A few guests of the ''Karlslust'' could indeed be pulled out of the debris; they had found shelter in the cellar.<ref name=sp/>


German firefighters arrived at the ''Karlslust'' considerably later than their British counterparts, the bulk of them 40 minutes after having been called.<ref name=feuerwehr1>{{cite web|title=1947: Für den Mantel das Leben verloren|url=http://www.berliner-feuerwehr.de/3063.html|publisher=Berlin Fire Department (Feuerwehr Berlin)|accessdate=4 December 2013|language=German}}</ref> This was due to the low quality of their vehicles (the engines needed some time to warm up) and the then speed limit of {{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} for civilians in Berlin (which had been imposed in order to ensure priority rights for vehicles of the [[Allies of World War II|World War II Allies]]).<ref name=tsp/><ref name=bz60/><ref name=feuerwehr2>{{cite web|title=Historie|url=http://www.berliner-feuerwehr.de/2869.html|publisher=Berlin Fire Department (Feuerwehr Berlin)|accessdate=4 December 2013|language=German}}</ref> Also, due to bridges over the [[Havel]] river having been destroyed during the war, detours had been taken in order to get to Hakenfelde from places in Spandau as well as the rest of Berlin.<ref name=tsp/>
German firefighters arrived at the ''Karlslust'' considerably later than their British counterparts, the bulk of them 40 minutes after having been called.<ref name=feuerwehr1>{{cite web|title=1947: Für den Mantel das Leben verloren|url=http://www.berliner-feuerwehr.de/3063.html|publisher=Berlin Fire Department (Feuerwehr Berlin)|accessdate=4 December 2013|language=German}}</ref> This was due to the low quality of their vehicles (the engines needed some time to warm up) and the then speed limit of {{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} for civilians in Berlin (which had been imposed in order to ensure priority rights for vehicles of the [[Allies of World War II|World War II Allies]]).<ref name=tsp/><ref name=bz60/><ref name=feuerwehr2>{{cite web|title=Historie|url=http://www.berliner-feuerwehr.de/2869.html|publisher=Berlin Fire Department (Feuerwehr Berlin)|accessdate=4 December 2013|language=German}}</ref> Also, due to bridges over the [[Havel]] river having been destroyed during the war, detours had been taken in order to get to Hakenfelde from places in Spandau as well as the rest of Berlin.<ref name=tsp/>

Revision as of 20:19, 6 December 2013

Karlslust dance hall fire
Date8 February 1947
Time22:45
LocationBerlin, Allied-occupied Germany
Coordinates52°34′1.6″N 13°11′50.42″E / 52.567111°N 13.1973389°E / 52.567111; 13.1973389
Also known asLoebel's Restaurant fire
Deaths80–88
Non-fatal injuries150

The Karlslust dance hall fire (also known as Loebel's Restaurant fire) occurred on 8 February 1947 in Hakenfelde, a locality of Spandau in what was then the British sector of Berlin. With its death toll of 80[1] to 88[2] people, it possibly marks the worst fire disaster in Germany since World War II,[3] at least in the city of Berlin.[4]

The fire

The Karlslust was the largest restaurant and dance hall in Spandau during the first half of the 20th century,[2] a two storied building with ballroom and bowling alley[4] famous for its "legendary" parties.[5] On the evening of Saturday, 8 February 1947, the first post-war fancy-dress ball (as it was carnival time) took place.[1] The landlord, Julius Loebel, had been granted the concession that the curfew was lifted that night (Berlin was occupied at that time).[5] An estimated 750[5] to 800[4] (or even up to 1,000)[2] mostly young people attended the event, among them a number of British Army staff.[2][5]

Due to the very low outside temperature of −20 °C (−4 °F)[1] or −25 °C (−13 °F),[2][4][note 1] three potbelly stoves had been put up inside the Karlslust in order to heat the place. At around 22:45, when the party was in full swing, a fire broke out at the wooden overhead beams,[2] which (as it was later determined) likely had been caused by the intense heat of the stove pipes.[4] As the Karlslust had been used as a prison in the last months of the war in Germany, windows were barred and doors had been walled up.[2][4] In the ensuing rush to the only exit, several people were trampled to death.[1][2] After three minutes, the whole roof structure of the building was on fire.[2]

Realizing the extent of the fire, several of those that had already escaped returned to retrieve their winter clothing from the wardrobe.[1][2] This behaviour was later met with a lack of understanding by the British authorities, but can be attributed to the tensed supply situation in post-war Germany, where people were living on ration stamps.[2] Eventually, the roof of the Karlslust collapsed, burying those still inside.[2]

Fire response

The first firefighters (of the British Army) arrived at the scene 15 minutes after the fire had broken out. Summoning firefighters was difficult at that time, because there was no standardized emergency telephone number: Each fire station had to be notified separately.[4][5] The freezing temperatures and the snow-covered area hampered the firefighting efforts.[2][4] In an attempt to rescue those trapped inside the collapsed building, three[1][7] or six[2] British soldiers died. A few guests of the Karlslust could indeed be pulled out of the debris; they had found shelter in the cellar.[2]

German firefighters arrived at the Karlslust considerably later than their British counterparts, the bulk of them 40 minutes after having been called.[8] This was due to the low quality of their vehicles (the engines needed some time to warm up) and the then speed limit of 40 km/h (25 mph) for civilians in Berlin (which had been imposed in order to ensure priority rights for vehicles of the World War II Allies).[4][5][9] Also, due to bridges over the Havel river having been destroyed during the war, detours had been taken in order to get to Hakenfelde from places in Spandau as well as the rest of Berlin.[4]

Fatalities

A memorial stone at In den Kisseln cemetery. The German inscription reads: "In memoriam of those who perished in the fire disaster at Karlslust inn on 8 February 1947."

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, Der Spiegel reported that 88 bodies had been found, many of them burned beyond recognition, and that another 108 people were missing.[2] 150 people were injured,[4] 40 of which needed hospital treatment.[2]

Later sources put the death toll to 80,[1][9] 81,[4] or 82.[5] On 25 February 1947, 77 victims were buried at In den Kisseln cemetery (de),[1] at a dedicated spot called "Loebel field", named after the landlord of the ill-fated dance hall.[5] On that day, all festivities and dance events in Berlin were cancelled.[1]

Aftermath

The Magistrate of Berlin (de), from 1945 to 1948 the civilian government for the whole city, issued cloth for 800 winter cloaks; lost ration stamps were replaced.[1] Political parties that collected donations for the victims included the conservative CDU, the social democratic SPD and the communist SED alike.[1]

In order to address issues identified for having slowed down the emergency response to the fire, the speed limit for civilian vehicles was lifted on 13 March 1947,[8] and a general emergency call number for Berlin was (re-)installed on 20 October of that year.[5]

Today, a high-rise building occupies the space were the Karlslust was located, at 8 Hakenfelder Straße.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ The winter of 1946/47 was one of the coldest ever observed in Europe.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gerlof, Andreas (7 February 1997). "Dann stürzte das Dach ein - es war grauenhaft". Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Spandauer Totentanz". Der Spiegel (in German): 3–4. 15 February 1947. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Flammendes Inferno im Lokal Karlslust" (PDF). Berliner Abendblatt (in German). 4 February 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m van Lessen, Christian (8 February 2007). "Kostümfest endete in einer Katastrophe" (in German). Der Tagesspiegel. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Brennende Balken töteten Ballgäste". Berliner Zeitung (in German). 8 February 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Hungerwinter 1946/47" (in German). Norddeutscher Rundfunk. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Fire In Berlin Dance Hall." Times [London, England] 10 Feb. 1947: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 6 Dec. 2013.
  8. ^ a b "1947: Für den Mantel das Leben verloren" (in German). Berlin Fire Department (Feuerwehr Berlin). Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Historie" (in German). Berlin Fire Department (Feuerwehr Berlin). Retrieved 4 December 2013.
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