Zoo Tower

Its primary role was as a gun platform to protect the government building district of Berlin; in addition, the Hochbunker (blockhouse) was designed to be used as a civilian air-raid shelter.

It also contained a hospital and a radio transmitter for use by the German leadership and provided secure storage facilities for art treasures.

[3] During the Battle of Berlin, it acted as a citadel and by depressing its large anti-aircraft artillery, its garrison was able to provide support for ground operations against the Soviet Red Army.

Although only 95 RAF bombers constituted the attack force, this was a grave domestic political embarrassment to Adolf Hitler, and in particular Hermann Göring, who had said that Berlin would never be bombed.

The two were connected by a tunnel that carried a telephone line to transmit information needed to fight enemy aircraft; and also pipes and cables for water, heating, and electrical power.

[4] In terms of provisions, and the defenses of the Zoo Tower, the defenders certainly believed it to be sufficient - "The complex was so well stocked with supplies and ammunition that the military garrison believed that, no matter what happened to the rest of Berlin, the zoo tower could hold out for a year if need be.

Younger Hitler Youth, while officially not supposed to be combatants, assisted the military during the loading process.

[13] With Soviet and Polish troops entering Berlin in 1945, civilians moved into the Zoo tower to escape harm.

[14] This was defended by German infantry and rockets, who were under pressure from Soviet tanks crossing the bridge, until the heavier anti-aircraft guns from the Zoo tower could gain line of sight through the smoke.

[15] The heavier 12.8 cm FlaK 40 anti aircraft guns obliterated Soviet armour, particularly when hitting it from the side.

[16] With thousands of civilians crammed into the facility, conditions in the Zoo tower towards the end were close to unbearable; it was crowded and had little water, and the air was hard to breathe.

[17][18] As the Soviet armies advanced inexorably towards the centre of Berlin, around 10,000 German troops retreated to the Government district.

For example, during daylight hours on April 30, the Soviets were unable to advance across the open areas in front of the Reichstag to attack the building because of heavy anti-tank fire from the 12.8 cm guns two kilometres away on the Zoo tower.

[23] The successful third attempt took four months of preparation and over four hundred holes drilled into the concrete which were filled with 35 tons of dynamite.