Historic Berlin

This page deals with parts of Berlin which were not directly related to the British.

Berlin

Kammergericht High Court. This is where the plotters were put on trial for the plot to kill Hitler on the 20th July 1944. Known as the July Plot. 5,000 people were arrested with 200 being eventually being executed.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Entrance

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Inside the plotters’ courtroom.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

As above.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

This is the balcony where Reich Justice Ministry, Roland Freisle, stood and called out “you traitors” to the plotters.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW – Reich Ministry of War). This is the courtyard where the execution took place of Oberst Claus von Stauffenberg and the rest of the conspirators for the 20 July plot to kill Hitler.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Exit Gate in the MOD courtyard

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Courtyard – OKW place of execution for the 20 July plot

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Plaque and wreath on the OKW courtyard wall in memory of the 20 July plot officers.
Note the 3rd name down: Oberst Claus von Stauffenberg, the officer who planted the bomb.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

The place of execution for 20 July plot.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

As above

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Front of Anhalter Railway Station.

This is the station where wounded soldiers and civilians were drowned when German Sappers blew the canal banks to slow up the Soviet advance. In doing so they flooded the underground lines. May I add that this desperate attempt to delay the Russian hordes was undertaken whilst Hitler was already dead.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Rear of the building.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

A war damaged building in former East Berlin

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

The Reichstag as it was in 1952/53. Repairs don’t look to have been started yet with the building being viewed from Straße des 17. Juni. When the Wall was built it would run just to the right of this image passing between the Reichstag and the buildings that are rear right.

Courtesy of A/C Ray (Bomber) Wells

Berlin

The Reichstag building which has stood on this spot since 1894

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Berliner Dom (cathedral) in former East Berlin

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Entrance to the Soviet War Memorial at Treptower Park, East Berlin

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Soviet War Memorial (Treptower Park) – 1952/1953.

Courtesy of A/C Ray (Bomber) Wells

Berlin

At the opposite end of the central area from the statue is a portal consisting of a pair of stylized Soviet flags (shown here) clad in marble recovered from Adolf Hitler’s demolished Reich Chancellery.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Here can be seen the Siegessäule – Victory Column. The picture was taken in 1952/3 by A/C Ray (Bomber) Wells, whilst serving at RAF Gatow. On the picture below the Siegessäule can be made out when looking through the columns of the Brandenburger Tor.

Courtesy of A/C Ray (Bomber) Wells

Berlin

Brandenburger Tor, looking from the east to the west.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Looking in from the west.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Herman Göring’s Reich Air Ministry (Reichsluftfahrtministerium), Berlin

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Part of the old Berlin Wall. East meets West. Hermann Göring’s Reichs Air Ministry in the background to the left of the wall is part of the former Gestapo HQ.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

Berlin Funkturm. The place were Lord Haw-Haw of Zeesen, William Joyce, would broadcast from during WW2.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill

Berlin

This is the old site of the Gestapo/SS HQ. What was called Prinz Albrecht Strasse (now called Niederkirchner Strasse) This site is being turned into a memorial/museum for the victims who had to suffer at the hands of the Gestapo/SS.

Courtesy of Mr David Fill