Flak tower
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Flak towers (German: Flaktürme) were large anti-aircraft gun blockhouses used by the Luftwaffe to prevent overflights of key areas in certain cities in World War II. They also served as air-raid shelters for tens of thousands of people and to coordinate air defence. With concrete walls up to 3.5 m thick, these towers were considered to be invulnerable to attack with the usual ordnance carried by Allied bombers, though it is unlikely that they would have withstood Grand Slam bombs which successfully penetrated much thicker reinforced concrete. Aircraft generally appeared to have avoided the flak towers.
The Russians, in assaulting Berlin, found it hard to make an impression on the Flak towers, even with the largest Russian assault gun, the 203 mm howitzer. They generally maneuvered around them, and eventually sent in envoys to seek their submission. Unlike the rest of Berlin, the towers tended to be better stocked with ammunition, and used their anti-aircraft 128 mm cannons to attack ground units. The Zoo Tower was one of the last points of defense, with German armoured units rallying near it at Tiergarten, before trying to break out of the encirling Russian army.
The towers, during the fall of Berlin, formed their own communities, though this was part of the reason of their downfall. Being some of the safest places in the fought-over city, they were usually crammed with civilians, eventually forcing them to capitulate.
For a time after the war, the conversion to representative objects with decorated facades was planned. After the war was lost, the demolition of the towers was in most cases unfeasible and many remain to this day.
[edit] Flak Tower generations
Each Flak tower complex consisted of a G-Tower (Gun Tower), and a L-Tower (Fire Control Tower).
- Generation 1 G-Towers were 70.5 * 70.5 * 39 m, usually armed with 8 (4 twin) * 128 mm guns and numerous 37 mm, 30 mm and 32 (8 quad) * 20 mm guns.
- Generation 1 L-Towers were 50 * 23 * 39 m, usually armed with 16 (4 quad) * 20 mm guns.
- Generation 2 G-Towers were 57 * 57 * 41.6 m, usually armed with 8 (4 twin) * 128 mm guns and 16 (4 quad) * 20 mm guns.
- Generation 2 L-Towers were 50 * 23 * 44 m, usually armed with 40 (10 quad) * 20 mm guns.
- Generation 3 G-Towers were 43 * 43 * 54 m, usually armed with 8 (4 twin) * 128 mm guns and 32 (8 quad) * 20 mm guns.
The evaluation of even larger Battery Towers was commissioned by Hitler. These would have been three times the size and firepower of Flak towers.
[edit] Built towers
[edit] Flakturm I - Berliner Zoo, Berlin
- Berlin Zoo (1st Generation)
- G-Tower was demolished by the British at the end of the war.
- L-Tower was demolished after the war.
 Zoo Tower, Berlin, after the battle |
[edit] Flakturm II - Friedrichshain, Berlin
- Friedrichshain (1st Generation)
- G-Tower was partially demolished after the war, one side remains visible.
- L-Tower was demolished after the war.
The G-Tower, known as Mont Klamott (Rubble Mountain) in Berlin, was the inspiration for songs by singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann and the rock band Silly.
[edit] Flakturm III - Humboldthain, Berlin
- Humboldthain (1st Generation)
- G-Tower was partially demolished after the war, one side remains visible. The interior can be visited.
- L-Tower was partially demolished after the war, some walls remain visible.
 Flakturm II G-Tower |
[edit] Flakturm IV - Heiligengeistfeld, Hamburg
- Heiligengeistfeld (1st Generation)
- G-Tower was transformed into a residential building,), .
- L-Tower was demolished after the war.
 Flakturm IV G-Tower |
[edit] Flakturm V - Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg
- Wilhelmsburg (2nd Generation)
- G-Tower remains to this day,
- L-Tower was demolished after the war.
 Flakturm V G-Tower |
[edit] Flakturm VI - Stiftskaserne, Vienna
- Stiftskaserne (3rd Generation)
- G-Tower is located within a military base of the Austrian Army.
- L-Tower (in Esterhazypark) is used as an aquarium (the "Haus des Meeres").
 Flakturm VI G-Tower |
 Flakturm VI L-Tower |
[edit] Flakturm VII - Augarten, Vienna
- Augarten (3rd Generation)
- G-Tower remains empty.
- L-Tower remains empty. Its use as a computer storage facility or an open air cinema is being considered, ,
 Flakturm VII G-tower |
 Flakturm VII L-tower |
[edit] Flakturm VIII - Arenberg Park, Vienna
- Arenberg Park (2nd Generation)
- G-Tower is used as a storehouse for art.
- L-Tower remains empty.
 Flakturm VIII G-tower |
 Flakturm VIII L-tower |
[edit] Planned, not built
[edit] Berlin
- Tiergarten (two additional planned, not built)
- Hasenheide Templehof (planned, not built)
- Reichstag building (considered for modification, but found unsuitable)
[edit] Bremen
- Bremen Neustadt (two planned, none built)
[edit] Hamburg
- East Hamburg (planned, not built)
[edit] Munich
- Munich Railroad Station (eight planned, none built)
[edit] Vienna
- Original plans were to place the three towers in Schmelz, Prater & Floridsdorf.
[edit] Flak Guns
[edit] See also
- Anti-aircraft warfare
- Battle of Berlin (air)
- Battle of Berlin
- Kammhuber Line
- List of World War II weapons of Germany
- Nazi architecture
[edit] References
- Foedrowitz, Michael. (1998). The Flak Towers in Berlin, Hamburg and Vienna 1940-1950. Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 0-7643-0398-8
- Ute Bauer "Die Wiener Flakturme im Spiegel Oesterreichischer Erinnerungskultur", Phoibos Verlag, Wien 2003. ISBN 3-901232-42-7
[edit] External links
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