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Reichstag

(Germany - Berlin - Berlin)

The Reichstag was the German Parliament. After the NSDAP and Adolf Hitler took power the parliament only had a symbolic meaning under the dictatorial regime. In this building the members of parliament met, until it was set to fire. After that the meeting were held in the Kroll Oper. During the Nazi-regime the parliament met for the last time in 1942, under the presidency of Hermann Goering.

During the Second World War, the Reichstag was bombed several times and a factory of the AEG, a field hospital and a gynecological institute were established in the ruins. Several hundred babies were born here.

During the Battle of Berlin in 1945, the Reichstag was one of the major goals to archieve by the Red Army. Not so much due to the strategic value, but more because of the symbolic value. It was defended by the 11. SS Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland" and elements of the 33. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS "Charlemagne". On 28 April 1945, fighting errupted around the Reichstag, when the 150th, 171st and 207th Infantry Division of the 79th Infantry Corps (3rd Shock Army - 1st Belarusian Front) launched an assault. On April 30 1945, the banner of the 150th Infantry Division was hoisted over the Reichstag. However, the fighting inside the building lasted until May 1, 1945.

After the war, the Reichstag was rebuilt.