Why did the East German government destroy the Church of Reconciliation in Bernauer Straße in 1985?

Question

Why did the East German government destroy the Church of Reconciliation in Bernauer Straße in 1985?

Answer 1

It was in the middle of the death strip and I suppose they thought it was a security risk. They also did it to prove the point that they were serious about the wall, remember that the GDR was officially a socialist atheist regime also.

Answer 2

The church was unfortunately a victim of the politics of division during the cold war.  The Bernauerstraße was on the border between East and West.  While the church itself lay on the "East" side of the wall, most of the parishoners lived on the "West" side of the wall (actually to the North of the street itself).  While the building stood as a symbol of the city's division for some time, in early 1985 the East German government decided it was time to remove the building for "security" reasons.  

I have attached some links to some interesting web sites with some great information for you.  Both are in English.

Answer 3

in short... because they can. That's also why they tore down the old imperial palace and built the Palace of the Republic.

Answer 4

Because it was inaccessible for it's congregation.

http://www.berlin.de/ce/denkmal/denkmale...