Built by Alfred Grenander, the station opened on 19 January 1924 as the terminus of the extension of the north-south U-Bahn (today's lines U6 and U7) from Hallesches Tor, before the eventual extension to Neukölln.

The station is named after August von Gneisenau, a 19th-century Prussian Generalfeldmarschall.

Until February 28, 1966, the line formerly designated as CI operated from Gneisenaustrasse to Britz-Süd via Neukölln in one direction and to Tegel via Friedrichstrasse in the other.

The extension from Britz-Süd to Rudow opened in 1972, and Möckernbrücke to Rathaus Spandau in 1984.

At the same time, the plaster walls were abandoned in favor of a green tile paneling.