Lettow Vorbeck Barracks

Lettow Vorbeck Barracks is a former military complex in Wandsbek spanning about 35 hectares with preserved structures from the 1930s. The site displays typical military architecture of that era, featuring brick buildings with functional layouts and rows of residential quarters arranged in geometric patterns.

The barracks were built in 1934 to house Infantry Regiment 69 and received their current name in 1937 as a tribute to military operations in German East Africa. After World War II, British forces took control of the complex, renaming it before it eventually returned to German administration.

Ceramic relief portraits of military figures decorate the building facades, telling stories about the site's connection to Germany's colonial past. Walking through the grounds, you can study these sculptural details and understand how the place was meant to honor certain historical figures.

The site is partially open to visitors and mixes historical structures with modern residential areas following major redevelopment in 2010. You can walk through the grounds to view the preserved buildings and newer sections, though some areas may have restricted access.

During the post-1945 occupation, British forces held the site under different names, revealing how the same place carried different identities under various powers. This renaming reflects a broader pattern of change that many German institutions experienced in that period.