The first electric trams! Badge

The first electric trams!

The first electric trams!
May 16 1881
First electric tram(Source: Siemens)

The Lichterfelde electric railway starts operation

In 1880, local opposition foiled the plans of Werner Siemens to build an elevated electric railway along Friedrichstrasse in the centre of Berlin. Turning his attention to a new project, he decided to build a tram line linking the Central Prussian Cadet School in Lichterfelde to the centre of Berlin. He had a ready-made customer base, as the presence of the most important German military academy in Prussia had established Lichterfelde as a thriving town and its inhabitants needed a fast and affordable means of getting to the centre of Berlin.

A temporary 2.4 km light railway from Berlin to Lichterfelde had been built in the 1870s to transport the materials needed to build the military academy. Taking advantage of this previously levelled ground, the company Siemens und Halske was quickly able to open the “Electric Railway in Lichterfelde” on 16 May 1881. It is considered to be the first electrically operated tram line in the world.

Learn more about the adventure museum

About the Deutschlandmuseum

An immersive and innovative experience museum about 2000 years of German history

Learn more

The whole year at a glance

The closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Berlin
Aug 16
Artikel erst ab morgen verfügbar
Communists banned!
Aug 17 1956
Item only available from the 17., check back!
Introduction of the Civil Code
Aug 18 1896
Item only available from the 18., check back!
Maximilian I becomes sole Roman-German king
Aug 19 1493
Item only available from the 19., check back!
East German soldiers in Czechoslovakia?
Aug 20 1968
Item only available from the 20., check back!
The wedding of Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst
Aug 21 1745
Item only available from the 21., check back!
Founding of the THW
Aug 22 1950
Item only available from the 22., check back!
Hitler-Stalin Pact
Aug 23 1939
Item only available from the 23., check back!
Scapegoating the Jews
Aug 24 1349
Item only available from the 24., check back!
Verdicts in the Wall shooters’ trial
Aug 25 1997
Item only available from the 25., check back!
Aug 26
No entry available
Aug 27
No entry available
Aug 28
No entry available
Aug 29
No entry available
Aug 30
No entry available
Aug 31
No entry available
Sep 1
No entry available
Sep 2
No entry available
Sep 3
No entry available
Sep 4
No entry available
Sep 6
No entry available
Sep 7
No entry available
Sep 8
No entry available
Sep 9
No entry available
Sep 10
No entry available
Sep 11
No entry available
Sep 12
No entry available
Sep 13
No entry available
Sep 14
No entry available
Sep 15
No entry available
Sep 16
No entry available
Sep 17
No entry available
Sep 18
No entry available
Sep 19
No entry available
Sep 20
No entry available
Sep 21
No entry available
Sep 22
No entry available
Sep 23
No entry available
Sep 24
No entry available
Sep 25
No entry available
Sep 26
No entry available
Sep 27
No entry available
Sep 28
No entry available
Sep 29
No entry available
Sep 30
No entry available
Oct 1
No entry available
Oct 2
No entry available
Oct 3
No entry available
Oct 4
No entry available
Oct 5
No entry available
Oct 6
No entry available
Oct 8
No entry available
Oct 9
No entry available
Oct 12
No entry available
Oct 14
No entry available
Oct 15
No entry available
Oct 16
No entry available
Oct 17
No entry available
Oct 18
No entry available
Oct 19
No entry available
Oct 20
No entry available
Oct 21
No entry available
Oct 22
No entry available
Oct 23
No entry available
Oct 24
No entry available
Oct 25
No entry available
Oct 26
No entry available
Oct 27
No entry available
Oct 28
No entry available
Oct 29
No entry available
Nov 1
No entry available
Nov 2
No entry available
Nov 4
No entry available
Nov 6
No entry available
Nov 7
No entry available
Nov 8
No entry available
Nov 9
No entry available
Nov 10
No entry available
Nov 11
No entry available
Nov 12
No entry available
Nov 13
No entry available
Nov 14
No entry available
Nov 15
No entry available
Nov 16
No entry available
Nov 17
No entry available
Nov 18
No entry available
Nov 19
No entry available
Nov 20
No entry available
Nov 21
No entry available
Nov 22
No entry available
Nov 23
No entry available
Nov 24
No entry available
Nov 25
No entry available
Nov 26
No entry available
Nov 27
No entry available
Nov 28
No entry available
Nov 29
No entry available
Nov 30
No entry available
Dec 1
No entry available
Dec 2
No entry available
Dec 3
No entry available
Dec 4
No entry available
Dec 5
No entry available
Dec 6
No entry available
Dec 8
No entry available
Dec 9
No entry available
Dec 10
No entry available
Dec 11
No entry available
Dec 12
No entry available
Dec 13
No entry available
Dec 14
No entry available
Dec 15
No entry available
Dec 16
No entry available
Dec 17
No entry available
Dec 18
No entry available
Dec 19
No entry available
Dec 21
No entry available
Dec 22
No entry available
Dec 23
No entry available
Dec 24
No entry available
Dec 25
No entry available
Dec 26
No entry available
Dec 27
No entry available
Dec 28
No entry available
Dec 29
No entry available
Dec 30
No entry available
Dec 31
No entry available

Discover history

Visit the unique Deutschlandmuseum and experience immersive history

2000 Jahre
12 Epochen
1 Stunde