Victory Column
This is an article I wrote for the website Atlas Obscura. They are a website full of interesting and mostly off the beaten path sites. They made some additional edits before posting it on their site, but this is the original article (for what it’s worth).
The Victory Column commemorates the three wars that led to German unification.
Originally conceived as a monument to victory in the Danish-Prussian War, by the time of its construction in 1874 the monument took on a new significance also honoring victories in the Austro-Prussian, and the Franco-Prussian Wars. Together these three were used by the Iron Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, to unify the individual principalities and kingdoms inside the area now known as Germany.
The column’s original location was in front of the Reichstag but it was moved prior to World War II. It’s previous location was bombed extensively during the war but the Column in its new location survived. There are pockmarks in some places where it appears to have been hit by shrapnel but it survived the war intact. In fact, after the Battle of Berlin Polish troops erected a flag from its top.
At nearly 70 meters high the structure provides a panoramic view to those who brave its 285 steps. The narrow staircase has a few landings for rest but is a particularly challenging climb. It sits inside a traffic circle and was envisioned as one of the grand entrances to the city. Four pedestrian tunnels make access easy but any who are brave enough can also cross the roundabout as well.