A complex of over 60 buildings, Beelitz-Heilstatten began life as a sanatorium in 1898. By World War I, however, it became a military hospital for the Imperial German Army, and would have the dubious distinction of treating a young Adolf Hitler in October and November of 1916 when wounded during the Battle of the Somme.
The Lowen-Adler Kaserne, or Lion-Eagle Barracks began in 1892 as a military training ground under Emperor Wilhelm II. It was so named because it was technically two separate barracks, the Lion's Barracks for infantry training, and the Eagle's Barracks for artillery and later mechanized training.
Activity here began during the Prussian Empire. A military laboratory and testing site was constructed here as part of the Kummersdorf Complex. In the early days, before the construction of facilities at Peenemunde, Wernher von Braun began work on his rockets near here.
In November, 1938, approximately 500 male prisoners were sent from the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp to begin construction of Ravensbruck. Unlike other concentration camps being constructed, Ravensbruck was intended specifically for female prisoners.
One who follows history cannot possibly go to Germany without setting aside the time to visit at least one of the former Nazi camps. During our trip, we visited two in Germany, and two in Poland. This was the first we visited, which was fitting because it was, in fact, the first in the system of camps, and was intended to be the model by which the subsequent camps were to be made and operated.
The bakery was built in 1939 as one of many businesses to be run by the German SS. Because the war was already making raw materials difficult to acquire, it didn't actually open until 1941.
Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia, had an extensive collection of animals, acquired personally or as gifts from others. His son, who inherited his throne, did not share this passion. Thanks largely to the efforts of Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein, a professor at the Berlin University, animals, land and buildings were donated by the king and in 1844, the zoo was opened.
We were fresh from wandering the Peenemunde Museum, minds filled with thoughts of buzz bombs and the first practical rockets. One of our party had fallen victim to what I swear is weaponized poison ivy, but was feeling better by this point. I had a second target in mind now. One not quite as public.
Design of the V-1 began as an exercise to build a remote-controlled aircraft that could carry a payload of 1,000 kg for a distance of 500 km. After several design and staffing changes, the Fieseler Aircraft Company, in association with Argus Motoren, proposed the final design of the "flying bomb", or "buzz bomb" as it was sometimes known. On June 19, 1942, the concept was approved, production was given a high priority, and development began at Peenemunde West.
Inaugurated in 1905, the current cathedral stands on the same site as its predecessor which had been there since 1750. Designed by architect Julius Carl Raschdorff, it cost over 11 million Reichmarks to construct. The interior included design influences by Anton von Werner.
