Reichsluftschutzschule, Air raid defense training complex in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Germany.
The Reichsluftschutzschule is a training complex in Steglitz-Zehlendorf with two-story buildings, classrooms, administrative facilities, and garages distributed across forested grounds. The site spans roughly 490,000 square meters and forms a cohesive architectural ensemble.
The complex was built from 1938 to 1939 by architect Eduard Jobst Siedler and trained air raid wardens from across Germany. After World War II it was transformed into a tuberculosis sanatorium and later became the Lungenklinik Heckeshorn hospital.
The complex displays reddish-brown clinker bricks across its facades, with decorative details like cornice bands and triangular brick elements framing building entrances. These design choices create a distinctive visual character throughout the site.
The site is best explored on foot as buildings are scattered across the forested grounds and reveal themselves gradually. Comfortable shoes are recommended for walking through the various sections of the complex.
The complex was deliberately designed to resemble a residential settlement rather than military barracks to mask its training purpose. This disguised construction made it harder to identify as a strategic target.
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