http://www.bz-berlin.de/archiv/das-spaete-bruder-glueck-von-spreepark-witte-article132998.html

If so, then, let’s talk…

(see, I do my research…)

And yes, I did my research. First of all, I’ll acknowledge that the green zone may have caused more problems especially since they had to charge exorbitant rates. The park also had a multitude of accidents (with many visitors severely injured or dead) and the government failed to check his background. (In 1981, his ride in Hamburg collided with another leaving seven people dead.) He was also in a lot of debt (EVEN before the parking lot situation).

I wrote this article in 2008. In 2009, more attention has been paid to the case of Marcel Witte due to his mother’s atempts to bring his situation to light (good for him for having such a great mama!). In 2009, the documentary “Achterbahn” also gained in popuarity (proabably how you heard about it, no?) (Norbert Witte, due to his bad health, is in a low-security prison in Berlin with a seven year term–his son, Marcel got 20 years in Peru.) With Marcel languishing in a Peruvian prison, his family has been trying their best to have him released or at the very least, transferred to a German prison. It’s a sad tale. The desparity between the father and the son’s punishment is unnnerving. The family is shattered and it yes,it tugs at our heartstrings but at the same time, this does not change the facts about what had happened, who had been involved, what crime (s) had been committed. I stated it as a fact and not a judgment. And yes, I did a lot of research and I don’t understand how you are

“certain [that he] comes from a famouse artistic background with his family doing this buisness since OTTO Witte (Konig von Albania) time (his Grandfater). He is a very smart and intelligent man with lots of history behind him, don’t believe for a moment that he is so dumb to deal with corruption unless he was forced to”

Did you personally KNOW Mr. Witte? (seriously, if this is Mrs. Witte, I’ll apologize and let’s talk–how about an interview?). It doesnt state in your information that you are currently in Berlin or even, Europe. Who have you spoken to about this? (beyond wikepedia?). Let me also define corruption for you:

noun: corruption
adj.
1. Marked by immorality and perversion; depraved.
2. Venal; dishonest
v. cor·rupt·ed, cor·rupt·ing, cor·rupts
v.tr.
1. To destroy or subvert the honesty or integrity of.
2. To ruin morally; pervert.
3. To taint; contaminate.
4. To cause to become rotten; spoil.

If you examine the facts of the case, it is pretty clear that my use of the word is justified. Is he still corrupt now? I don’t know. Is he a corrupt human being? I can’t say. But AT THE TIME, was there corruption? Yes.

Your accusation that I did not do research is baseless–his background means that he was incapable of corruption? Non sequitur, man!

Plus, the fact that you say that “he is so dumb to deal with corruption unless he was forced to”…uh…in a 2007 interview, he actually says that “he was so dumb to get involved…” I don’t understand your certainty about his character if you yourself did not know him AND since it is apparant that you had also not done “better research.”

Two things:
If you’re going to accuse someone of not doing research, make sure that you’ve actually done your own.
Second, if you’re going to assert a point or a position (and hey, I’m cool with that..it’s a free world and I like hearing different ideas) make sure that you stick with it. You basically destroyed your first assertion (second paragraph) with the second sentence like a snake eating its own tail (calm down, I’m not calling you snake. It’s just a phrase).

BUT my intentions for writing this piece was to talk about the space itself – the shadowy corners, the defunct rides, the strange silence. My focus was not on the Witte family nor the history. I mentioned it (briefly) because I thought it would be important for the reader to know how the amusement park ended up abandoned and in such a state.

I appreciate your feedback and heck, it got me pumped to write more about the history of the place. I’m definitely hankering to go back (though I think that the police are much stricter now due to the recent blast of media attention it has been getting…or maybe they’ll even open it to the public! Ha!)

I wish you luck and thanks for reading.

Happy travels!

Think about what the Senate in Berlin did by creating a Green Zone that took away the parks parking capacity. Without a park platz for customers there is no income. The park had to file for bankrupt do to the actions that took away the parking lot.

Mr Witte I am certain comes from a famouse artistic background with his family doing this buisness since OTTO Witte (Konig von Albania) time (his Grandfater). He is a very smart and intelligent man with lots of history behind him, don’t believe for a moment that he is so dumb to deal with corruption unless he was forced to.