Comments on: Rubble Mountain: My Favorite Attraction in Stuttgart, Germany

By: Frank Kay

Frank Kay — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 23:53:47 +0000

After seeing all the destruction of D-Day I got to thinking about Stuttgart where I spent 2-1/2 years in 1960 – 62. I will always remember rubble hill as well as all the destruction that still existed then. Thank you for the pictures. Frank

By: George

George — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 11:48:25 +0000

In reply to Cheryl k. Growing up in this beautiful city and hiking up the summit many times I never realized what I was standing on, until I went up Monte Scherpelino for New Years as a teen too see the spectacular view of the entire city and its fireworks. My friend told me the unbelievable history of the locality which made me feel proud of my hometown and gave me a sense of its history. I definitely think this is one of the most impacting places I've ever encountered. Monte Scherpelino and it's history are one of the major reasons I'm filled with pride thinking of this amazing city. I feel very blessed to come from a place that spot-on knows how to deal with its dark history.

By: Laurel

Laurel — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 08:49:48 +0000

In reply to David. @David Thanks for sharing and agreed the role of the Trümmerfrau was incredible and it's a story that needs to be told.

By: David

David — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 23:24:33 +0000

In reply to Lori.

Robinson Barracks- in a somewhat smaller form- still is on top of the hill you remember from your childhood. In the 1980’s when I was stationed at Kelley Barracks across town, Robinson Barracks was mainly a large housing area and the site of the community PX & Commissary. After the Cold War the PX/Commissary complex was closed and returned to the Germans and is now a dense housing community compared to the rest of RB. Robinson Barracks is now fenced in and closed to the public.

As to the Birkenkopf, remember that a significant portion of the rubble from the Bombings was collected and reused as Germany was very poor in the aftermath of th war. I do not know what percentage of rubble was reused versus piled up on the hill, but the hill would have been much higher had the Germans not reused all that could be recovered. The Trümmerfrau or Rubble Women did much of the clearing of debris and recovery of the city after the War. Theirs is a story largely forgotten outside of Germany.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trümmerfrau

By: Where to find ruins of war in Europe: the German hills of the dead and destruction (and rebirth) | Any Latitude | Just another mile forward

Sun, 11 Aug 2013 11:59:11 +0000

[…] this link you will find an article on a visit to Birkenkopf, with additional […]

By: Cheryl k

Cheryl k — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 09:08:01 +0000

Thank you so much for posting this… I lived in Stuttgart in 2004, and went here… But most of my pictures didn’t turn out and I had forgotten its name… I appreciate this more than words can tell you.

By: Lori

Lori — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:31:03 +0000

Fascinating! Thank you for posting! I lived in Stuttgart from 1952-56. My Army officer father was stationed at Robinson Barracks, a large U.S. Army installation. The post included a large apartment complex for military families. The apartments were located next to a beautiful orchard in a valley. The kids played in this orchard, where there were many bomb craters. On the other side of the post, there were woods and a line of concrete “teeth” that had been part of the Siegfried Line. My father was in the infantry during World War II; landed with his 90th Infantry Division on Utah Beach, D-Day, and fought across Germany, France, Belgium, Luxomborg throughout the war. He was an attorney, and served with the JAG Corps in Stuttgart in the 1950s. Part of his job was to assist German citizens seeking to relcaim their homes that had been abandoned during the war. At that time there were still many bombed out buildings in the city center, but rebuilding was ongoing. I had no idea that this rubble monument existed. I have always wanted to return for a visit, and if I get my wish, I will seek out this site.

By: Martin Stock

Martin Stock — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:39:26 +0000

As you found out – the Birkenkopf is now the highest point of Stuttgart with 511 meters. To have a mountain higher than 500 meters was the reason why the piled up the rubble exactly there. Otherwise they could have picked any other location at lower altitude and easier to reach. The inner city was the most severely destroyed part of the city. Thus they had to move these 15 million cubic meters rubble 200-300 meters in altitude to pile them up on the Birkenkopf.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 10 May 2011 04:12:33 +0000

Thanks for posting this. I didn’t know these existed, and especially that they could be found all over Germany. I wonder if any other countries have them?

By: Eastgale

Eastgale — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:17:42 +0000

@Laurel
Thank you for the wiki link! I have checked it out and it turns out that I lived right near to one. The Olympiaberg at the Olympiazentrum is one of them and I have been there. I am dismayed now that I didn’t know the story back then.

When we visited there it just looked so normal, a park with a small rolling hills with beautiful grass covering it. Now that I think back, I can finally understand what the cross on top of the hill is for! At that time I remember puzzling with my friends, now everything made sense. But the place looked exactly like a normal (and beautiful) park! Kids playing, people reading, strolling around, etc etc. I guess it should be a sign of hope that something this sombre can turn into something beautiful, eh?