The Berlin Olympic Stadium, designed by Werner March, was built in 1934-36 for the XI Summer Olympics in 1936. It replaced the German Stadium, built on the same site in 1913 by Otto March (Werner March's father). The stadium is the focal point of the "Reichssportfeld" (Imperial Sports Field), which embraces a large number of other facilities. The whole complex displays the monumental character of art and architecture so typical of the Third Reich.
The stadium can seat some 90,000 spectators, 30,000 of them under cover; the total length of the seating is about 41km/25mi. The stadium itself is only 16.5m/54ft high, but the field is 12m/40ft below ground level. The main entrance is the Olympiator (Olympic Gate) in the east; on the west side is the Marathontor (Marathon Gate) with the names of the 1936 Olympic winners. Today football matches are played here, including the German equivalent of the F.A. Cup Final in May of each year, as well as important athletic events.
The stadium complex also incorporates the Harbig Sports Hall, the Sports Forum built in 1926-28 together with the "House of German Sport" (1932), the swimming stadium to the north (7,600 seats for spectators), a hockey stadium and a riding track in the south.
On the west side of the Maifeld stands the bell-tower, which was rebuilt in 1962 after having been damaged in the war. It is 77.17m/253ft high and has an express lift. It has a fairly new clock bearing the inscription "I call upon the youth of the world." The old cracked bell lies in front of the southern gate to the stadium. There are fine panoramic views of the stadium, city and River Havel, with distant prospects of Potsdam and the Müggelberge.
North of the bell tower in the Murelle hills lies the woodland theater (Waldbühne), an open-air stage with 20,000 seats, also designed by Werner March. It was completed in 1936 and intended by the Nazis to be used for mythical "Thing Plays." Open-air concerts are held here.
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