the flak tower
- Thread starter fly boy
- Start date
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Catch22
Major
Yes, they did exist. They were huge bunkers basically with Flak emplacements on top. There are ruins of a few still in existence.
Catch22
Major
All of the ones I found were in Vienna.
Lemme resize the one pic.
This pic is so huge, I can't upload it anywhere haha.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Vienna_flak_tower_dsc01576.jpg
A4K
Brigadier General
Good pic Cory! There are four or five still remaining in Wien (Vienna), one of which is still used by the MOD as a control bunker in national emergency situation, and has a direct access to parliament.
The rest they wanted to destroy after the war already, but the walls are typically 3,5 m thick, and any attempt at detonation would result in the destruction of a large area of the city first, so most are used for other purposes -one is an aquarium/ terrarium for example. The MOD one and another they tried to destroy, now unstable in the tower area, are off limits to the general public however.
(I don't know if you know, Flyboy, but 'Flak' is an abbreviation of Fliegerabwehrkanone (Lit. 'anti aircraft gun' - Flieger: flying object, in this case aircraft; Abwehr: defence; Kanone: cannon/ large calibre gun). Interesting how the term has come to be used in general english -"to 'cop flak' over something" )
The rest they wanted to destroy after the war already, but the walls are typically 3,5 m thick, and any attempt at detonation would result in the destruction of a large area of the city first, so most are used for other purposes -one is an aquarium/ terrarium for example. The MOD one and another they tried to destroy, now unstable in the tower area, are off limits to the general public however.
(I don't know if you know, Flyboy, but 'Flak' is an abbreviation of Fliegerabwehrkanone (Lit. 'anti aircraft gun' - Flieger: flying object, in this case aircraft; Abwehr: defence; Kanone: cannon/ large calibre gun). Interesting how the term has come to be used in general english -"to 'cop flak' over something" )
There are several still standing in Germany.
Flak tower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
When I go to Hamburg in the next few months, I will get pictures of the one still standing there. It is now a nightclub.
Flak tower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
When I go to Hamburg in the next few months, I will get pictures of the one still standing there. It is now a nightclub.
Matt308
Glock Perfection
That would be one quiet nightclub!!!
Why is that?
Catch22
Major
That would be a really cool club, I'd go to that one for sure.
Check this site out. It has a great article on the Flak towers and the Berlin bunker system. Some good photos as well.
2/Pz. Aufkl.Abt. Grossdeutschland - UK based WW2 German Re-enactment Group
2/Pz. Aufkl.Abt. Grossdeutschland - UK based WW2 German Re-enactment Group
Colin1
Senior Master Sergeant
He might be referring to the 3.5m thick walls
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
I think the opposite would be the case, imagine the club music blasting off the concrete walls...the accoustics in there have got to be insane!
Crunch
Senior Airman
Wow amazing! I finished MOHA many moons ago, but thought it was just something the designers had come up with! I'm muchos impressed!!!!
stug3
Staff Sergeant
Flak tower being erected, 1942
davebender
1st Lieutenant
Built to last forever and it appears that might hold true.
U-Boat base in Saint Nazaire: Too big to knock | The Helpful Engineer
U-Boat base in Saint Nazaire: Too big to knock | The Helpful Engineer
Civettone
Tech Sergeant
They were a waste of resources - mainly sprung fro the imagination of Hitler himself - but they serve a useful role in sheltering hundreds of civilians. Also, they were used with great success against the advancing Soviet armies.
As said before, they were close to impossible to destroy. The amount of concrete and steel used, is gigantic. Many civilian bunkers could have been built instead.
Kris
As said before, they were close to impossible to destroy. The amount of concrete and steel used, is gigantic. Many civilian bunkers could have been built instead.
Kris
davebender
1st Lieutenant
KBB Underground Technologies » Etzel
Personally I'd build this bomb proof fuel storage facility and an additional hydrogenation plant to fill it with aviation gasoline for the night fighter force. But nobody asked my opinion.
Personally I'd build this bomb proof fuel storage facility and an additional hydrogenation plant to fill it with aviation gasoline for the night fighter force. But nobody asked my opinion.
stug3
Staff Sergeant
I dont think I would describe any aspect of the Reich's resistance to Soviet armies in 1944-45 as a "great success".
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
In the end, the flak towers in Berlin were the last strongholds...self powered, vast ammunition and supply reserves and even equipped with a hospital, there were impervious to Soviet assault...even with thier largest artillery.
The Soviets had to send special envoys to parlay with the defenders and 30,000 refugees.
