World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseConstruction of the Reichstag building in Berlin began in 1884 after the 1871 unification of Germany, and completed 10 years later. The original architect was Paul Wallot and the firm Philipp Holzmann A.G. performed the construction. It continued to function as the parliament building for the Weimar Republic after WW1. In Feb 1933, a fire broke out in the building, providing pretext for Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party to seize dictatorial powers. Repairs done after the fire were incomprehensive at best, thus through 1945, the parliament met at the Kroll Opera House across the Königsplatz (now Platz der Republik) to the west. Briefly during the war, a conversion of the Reichstag building into a flak tower was considered, but ultimately the idea was abandoned as the structure was not well suited for a military fortification. The building was damaged by Allied air attacks during the war, and it became the symbolic goal for the Soviet advance during the Battle of Berlin.

ww2dbaseThe Kroll Opera House (German: Krolloper) was built earlier than the Reichstag building in 1844. It was named after its proprietor restaurateur Joseph Kroll, and Friedrich Ludwig Persius served as the chief architect (with significant assistance from Carl Ferdinand Langhans and Eduard Knoblauch). It served its early years as an entertainment venue before being rebuilt as an opera house. In 1933, it was taken over by the German parliament to serve as its meeting place. It was at Kroll that Hitler warned his followers against the "international finance Jewry" in Jan 1939, promoted 12 generals to the rank of Field Marshal in Jul 1940, and declared war on the United States in Dec 1941. The final parliament meeting held at Kroll took place on 26 Apr 1942. After a few more opera performances (after the neighboring Staatsoper Unter den Linden opera hall was damaged by air raids), it closed permanently due to war damage. It was demolished in 1951.

ww2dbaseIn 1956, it was decided that the Reichstag building, which had remained unused since 1933 and in ruins since 1945, was to be restored. Architect Paul Baumgarten led the reconstruction effort between 1961 and 1964. On 3 Oct 1990, the official reunification ceremony that re-joined East Germany and West Germany was held at the Reichstag building, and the parliament met at the building on the following day. Between 1992 and 1999, architect Norman Foster reconstructed the building, essentially gutting the old building and keeping only the building's outer walls. Today the building remains the meeting place of the German parliament Bundestag.

Reichstag Building and Kroll Opera House Interactive Map

Photographs

Reichstag Building and Kroll Opera House Timeline