Flak towers and other WWII trivia

Can anyone tell me about the flak towers that dot Vienna? Also, are there any other vestages of WWII that might be of interest to a WWII history buff?

Jim Bouck

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You won%26#39;t really find %26quot;vestiges%26quot; of WWII in Vienna beside the FLAK towers.

But there is a museum dedicated to militarism (Heeresgeschichtles Museum at Arsenal). In the town of Mödling (or actually close to it in Hinterbrühl) there is a grotto that was used to manufacture aircraft during WWII. Mödling/Hinterbrühl is located South of Vienna and is easily reachable by train. If you are willing to travel farther (out of Vienna) you could go to Mauthausen where a concentration camp is situated. Traveling time there is at least 2h00min.

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For details of the Vienna flak towers look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flak_tower

For the underground armaments factory Mikey mentions look to:

www.seegrotte.at/002_englisch/frameset.htm

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The military Museum -

www.hgm.or.at

this is an interesting place but much more info on the period- 30 Years war through World War 1.

The outdoor area of tanks etc. interesting but this I believe is closed during the period after october for the winter.

Some possibilities -

Stephansdom-

inside some photos of the bombing damage that occured.

On Albertina platz

the War memorial to all victims of wars.

This built on the site of a former building destroyed during raids .

In the basement were 300 + people who died as a result of the bombing and collapse of the building.

Morzinplatz-

Memorials at the site of the former Getapo headqurters this too destroyed during the bombings late in the War.

This the former Hotel metropol.

Memorial on the site

and at Salzgies 6 some exhibits - Hopefully still open at various times.

Some trivia, the flak towers had gun installations all at the same level ( altitude ) to assist in fire control firections.

These are interesting to see- one an aqaurium today.

While not directly war related.

Numerous tours too associated with the movie the Third Man- many sites to see of this film with hotels exisiting today used a headquarters for the 4 powers.

Outside of Vienna - the former war prisoner camp during World war 2 just north of Krems.

No remains today at this site now an airport excepting various signage and memorials.

This camp Stalag 17 B - said to be the factual inspiration for the famous movie Stalig 17.

This is said to contain 50-60000 prisoners from various countries at one time.

Not too far away from the above and just north of the S-5 roadway at Grafenworth - still the concrete remains of the former buildings, hangars used for target practice by planes from the former war airfield nearby.