Generalstabsgebäude Berlin, Former military headquarters building in Berlin-Mitte, Germany
The Generalstabsgebäude was the seat of the Great General Staff of the German Empire, built between 1867 and 1871 in Neo-Renaissance style to a design by August Ferdinand Fleischinger. It stood at Königsplatz 6, between Moltkestraße and Herwarthstraße, and was extended northward from 1873 to 1882. Heavily damaged in World War II, it was later demolished; part of the site is now covered by the Federal Chancellery.
The building was constructed between 1867 and 1871 as the seat of the Great General Staff of the German Empire. In the following years until 1882, the complex expanded northward to support growing military administrative functions.
The address at Königsplatz 6 was the daily workplace of the chiefs of the Great General Staff: Moltke until 1888, then Waldersee, Schlieffen and the younger Moltke until 1914. Theodor Fontane set a scene nearby: in his novel Stine, Waldemar, who lives close to the building, speaks about it. After 1918 the Prussian Interior Ministry moved in, from 1934 the Reich and Prussian Ministry of the Interior.
The building no longer exists: it stood at Königsplatz 6, today's Platz der Republik, between Moltkestraße (now Willy-Brandt-Straße) and Herwarthstraße. Part of the site is covered by the Bundeskanzleramt, so the location can only be viewed from outside, within the government quarter.
The building's last military use came at the start of World War I: the Great General Staff stayed at Königsplatz from 2 to 16 August 1914 before moving its headquarters with the course of the war. After the Treaty of Versailles forced its dissolution, the Prussian Interior Ministry took over the building, from 1934 the Reich and Prussian Ministry of the Interior.
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