Berlin flak towers

Discussions on the fortifications, artillery, & rockets used by the Axis forces.
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bryson109
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#16

Post by bryson109 » 09 Dec 2004, 04:14

I agree nice pics, kstdk. :D

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Erich
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#17

Post by Erich » 09 Dec 2004, 05:52

the single 128's were replaced by twin 128mm guns, four of them to a tower coverd by smaller fla like 2cm flakvierling and the Getty image of 37mm Fla-zwillings.


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kstdk
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#18

Post by kstdk » 09 Dec 2004, 10:41

Hello again

More pictures, mostly provided via the net - or delivered by "friends in arms" :D

Hope you like them !!!!

They may explain some facts. The Flak Türme was also shelter for civil population, along with emergency hospital - and had its own powersystem so it could work under all conditions.

Regards
Kurt
kstdk.

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kstdk
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#19

Post by kstdk » 09 Dec 2004, 10:43

Next:

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kstdk
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#20

Post by kstdk » 09 Dec 2004, 10:44

Next: Interior Berlin Zoo ( Tiergarten ) bunker, showing the filters, hospital and generator.

Regards
Kurt
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waldorf
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#21

Post by waldorf » 10 Dec 2004, 00:40

Thank you for the excellent pictures and additional information.

Does anyone happen to know if the hospital pictured in the final sets of photos was ever opened to Berlin civillians during air raids to recieve care or even if civillians could use the bunker as a shelter?

W.

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kstdk
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#22

Post by kstdk » 10 Dec 2004, 01:31

Hello

The Zoo bunker in Tiergarten was buildt also as "luftschutz" for 8000 civilians, but it is told that during Airraids there was up to 30000 people in the bunker. The 1 floor was Airraid shelter, the 2 floor was storage rooms for art treasures from the Berliner Museums, such as the Gold treasure of Priamos, the coin collection of Kaiser Wilhelm and the bust of Nofretete.
The 3 floor was the hospital with 95 beds, 2 operating rooms, 8 doctors, 20 nurses, 30 helpers.

Prominent personalities were treated there, such as Hanna Reitch who were wounded during a airraid. Also Generaloberst Schmundt was treated there after the attack on Hitler 20 juli 1944, where he had been wounded.
Hans Ulrich Rudel after he was shot down over the Oder in februar 1945 was also treated in the hospital of the G-Turm of the Zoo bunker.

The 4 floor was the quarters for the Flak personnel.

The towers had their own Energy and water supply as well as researchlaboratorys and armamentoffices ( research ) and radiotransmitters and Gestapo- and Wehrmacht command centers.

Theese informations are from:

"Die Flaktürme in Berlin, Hamburg und Wien 1940 - 1950" by Michael Foedrowitz - Waffen Arsenal - ISBN: 3-7909-0575-5

This can absolutely be recommended for further reading and info on this subject.

Regards
Kurt
kstdk.

Kev M
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#23

Post by Kev M » 05 May 2005, 11:57

Hi Guys

Found this site whilst doing a bit of research on the Flak towers myself.

I would recommend a book that I have.

The Flak Towers in Berlin, Hamburg and Vienna 1940-1950

By Michael Foedrowitz

ISBN 0-7643-0398-8

Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd

A 48 page A4 softback publication with some excellent pictures and drawings of then and now.

All the best Kev

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MAX_theHitMan
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#24

Post by MAX_theHitMan » 05 May 2005, 15:27

Many thanks for that information @kstdk.
Most excellent posting of pictures too.
I was wandering if the picture you posted (of the destroyed Flak tower/bunker Humboldthain) was during the war,
or was it after the capture of berlin?

For such a formidable construction looks like it was completely blown down on one side. :o
Doesn´t seem to be from allied bombing?... or could it be?
Do you have any info about this Humboldthain bunker being destroyed?
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jopaerya
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#25

Post by jopaerya » 05 May 2005, 15:40

Hi

The Humboldthain Gefechtsturm was half destroyed
by the French in 1947 only the Nordsite of the bunker
was not destroyed because there was a important railway-
route along the Nordsite of the Flakturm.

Regards Jos

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kstdk
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#26

Post by kstdk » 05 May 2005, 15:43

Hello

The bunker Humboldthain was blown up after the war ( G-Turm - First time 25-10-1947 - second time 28-2-1948 - third time 13-3-1948 ) ( The L-Turm 13-12-1947 ).

The area has been under construction as a monument since 1950 / again 1956 and was cleared of the rest of rubble in 1986 and planted with trees.

The rest is still standing as a Monument and platform for viuwing over the area.

The final projeckt was finished in 1990 and had the cost of approx. 3 mill DM !!

Additional info can be found in:

Die Flaktürme in Berlin, Hamburg und Wien 1940 - 1950 by Michael Foedrowitz ( ISBN 3-7909-0575-5 Podzun-Pallas-Verlag )

Regards
Kurt
kstdk.

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MAX_theHitMan
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#27

Post by MAX_theHitMan » 05 May 2005, 17:05

The final projeckt was finished in 1990 and had the cost of approx. 3 mill DM !!
:o WOW...what a waste of money :(

Why not just keep the building as it was and turn it all into a nightclub...
or some type of funky-looking "Bunker Hotel"? :D

Oh well :roll:

Thanks for that feedback from you guys.
I didn´t know that, interesting piece of history.

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dimi_labada
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Humboldthain, some days before

#28

Post by dimi_labada » 06 May 2005, 02:56

on April 30 to be precise....

Dimitris Labaditis
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PF
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#29

Post by PF » 24 Oct 2005, 14:59

C. Ryan "The Lst Battle" does include description of Berlin Flank Towers

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Kim Sung
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#30

Post by Kim Sung » 25 Oct 2005, 17:02

Flakturms at the west end of Tiergarten. These six-storied buildings could accomodate 8 thousand people(accoding to a report, 30 thousand people seeked their haven in one of these Flakturms)

Photographed on January 22, 1941
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