6/ Flak Towers
Flak towers were large reinforced concrete anti-aircraft gun blockhouse towers constructed by Germany during WW2. There were 8 flak tower complexes in the cities of Berlin (three), Hamburg (two), and Vienna (three) from 1940 onwards. Other cities that used flak towers included Stuttgart and Frankfurt. Smaller single-purpose flak towers were built at key outlying German strong points, such as at Angers in France, Heligoland in Germany. The towers were operated by the Luftwaffe to defend against Allied strategic air raids during World War II. They also served as air-raid shelters for tens of thousands of local civilians.
There were 2 types of tower :-
1/ The G-Tower or Combat Tower was also known as the Gun Tower, Battery Tower or Large Flak Tower of which there were 3 types or generations as they were modified as the war progressed – G1, G2 and G3.
Flak Tower G 1 type Berlin Zoo immediate post war.
Flak tower Berlin Zoo G1 type with heavy flak gun in background.
Flak tower Berlin Zoo with heavy flak gun in background.
Flak tower Berlin Zoo with twin heavy flak gun
Flak tower gallery Berlin Zoo with twin heavy flak gun in background.
Quad flak gun on flak tower
Quad 20 mm flak gun on Berlin Zoo flak tower
Flak tower G2 type post war
Flak tower G3 type post war
2/ The L-Tower or Lead Tower which was fitted with a substantial radar array was also known as the Fire-control tower, command tower, listening bunker or small flak tower.
L tower with radar for command and control and light flak
Wood Flak Towers
There were also huge numbers of substantial wood flak towers built all over Germany and occupied Europe which could mount a light flak weapon.
Wood tower or raised platform to mount light flak gun
Wood tower which could mount a light weapon for anti aircraft use
Wood tower for light flak gun and or observation
Winkel tower.
When I first saw this photo I thought it was a Flak Tower of some sort. Wrong ! It is in fact a conical air raid shelter called a Winkel tower after the man who designed this - Leo Winkel. They were much cheaper to build than underground shelters and very effective because of their pointy shape which deflected bombs outwards. They could house up to 500 people and of the 200 built only one of which was destroyed in an air raid. Several have survived to this day
Winkel air raid shelter.
Compiled by David Fell. Photos from my archive, the Bundesarkive and Michael Feodrowitz.
I recommend the book The Flak Towers in Berlin, Hamburg and Vienna by Michael Foedrowitz published 1997 which is a good starter for this subject
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