Site of the Berlin terror attack is a familiar place

Monday’s terror attack in Berlin, in which some awful monster drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market, killing at least 12 and injuring more than 50, hits close to home, even though I live in the U.S. The site is the Kaiser Willhelm Memorial Church, and it’s an area well known to me as I have lived nearby in an apartment for a week while covering InnoTrans, the world’s largest railroad trade show in September 2010, 2012, and 2014. Associate Editor David Lassen covered this year’s show, and his report will go into our March issue.

 The site of the attack is only a few steps away from the Berlin zoo train station, busy with both through passenger trains and suburban locals, also known as the S-Bahn. This was the main station in West Berlin during the Cold War, and now it’s a non-descript utilitarian box, an unflattering reminder of past hostilities compared to the glittery multi-level main station that was built after and symbolizes the country’s grand reunification.

 The bombed-out remains of the Kaiser Willhelm Church first appeared to me in a thick book about World War II. My dad gave me the volume when I was a kid to help me understand the war in which he proudly served stateside and in the Pacific. You can imagine how startled I was to look up and see the church in person in 2010 on my first visit. At night, it is beautifully lit with thousands of stained glass pieces. I imagine it was that way last night.

 For a week each of the three Septembers I’ve been in Berlin, I would walk from the apartment two blocks down reassuring, tree-lined Rankestrabe, turn the corner at the church, and cross its grounds on the way to the S-Bahn commuter train to the fairgrounds and the show. It was here that I ran into a friend from Chicago, who was also in town for InnoTrans, on the street, struck up conversation, and decided on the spot to grab dinner together at a nearby restaurant.

 Berlin is a lively, charming place, and one that I think of fondly because of its forward looking view of railroading, its inviting places, and wonderful people. I am sorry it is the scene of such a tragedy at this time of year. Let there be peace on Earth, indeed.