When was the Victory Column erected in Berlin? Victory Column in Berlin
Berlin's Victory Column, known among Germans as the Golden Elsa, is one of the city's main attractions, as well as a monument to German history commemorating Prussia's victories in three wars.
The history of the creation of the Victory Column
The column was officially opened in early September 1873, which was created by the project leader, the architect Johann Heinrich Strack, on the orders of Kaiser Wilhelm I. On the granite base of the column you can see images dedicated to battles in the Danish, Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian wars. The total height of the column (including the sculpture) was almost 51 meters.
The top of the column was decorated with a sculpture of the goddess Victoria, which always characterizes victory. The height of the sculpture was almost 8.5 meters and weighed 35 tons. The sculptor who created the column is Friedrich Drake.
Initially, the column was located on the Royal Square, that is, on the place that is now called Republic Square (right in front of the Reichstag building).
Victory Column in the 20th century
In 1939, the column was moved to Big Star Square in the Tiergarten district, where it is still located. During its installation in a new location, another (fourth) section, 7.5 meters high, was added to the column. Therefore, the actual height of the column was almost 67 meters.
Victory Column after the end of World War II
After the end of the war, the Victory Column remained undestroyed, although the USSR's ally, France, intended to blow it up immediately after the signing of a peace treaty with Germany. But, since this idea was not supported by the rest of the allied countries, the column was left in its original place intact.
After Germany and Berlin were divided into two states during the Cold War, the Victory Column began to belong to West Germany-West Germany.
In 1987, city residents and the government allocated a whole kilogram of gold to gild the sculpture at the peak of the column. Since then, the Victory Column has rightfully been called “Golden Elsa” in local slang.
Victory Column today
Today, after the reunification of Germany, the Victory Column is a monument to the country and is under state protection. It is located in the center of the square, and around it there is a highway in the form of a ring.
At an altitude of almost 50 meters, Golden Elsa has an observation deck, which is reached by 285 steps of a staircase located inside the column. This rather long path is worth taking at least once to admire the beautiful panorama of the Tiergarten area, which has many other attractions.
Tourist information
If there is an observation deck, the Victory Column is a German architectural monument that is open to the public. There, inside the column, below, there is a historical museum.
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 9:30-18:30
Saturday-Sunday: 9:30-19:00
Monday-Sunday: 10:00-17:30
By the way, inside the column, from Friday to Sunday there is also a souvenir shop, but only from April to November from 12:00 to 17:00.
Ticket prices:
Adult: 3 EUR
Child: 2.50 EUR
How to get there
To get to the place where the Victory Column is located, you need to, being at the Brandenburg Gate, go through a pedestrian tunnel, the entrance and exit to which are marked by pavilions made of stone.
The best way to get to the Brandenburg Gate is to walk from Alexanderplatz along Unter den Linden street, where there are many attractions: the Cathedral, Museum Island, Berlin Opera, Madame Tussauds, many cafes, restaurants, etc.
In turn, you can get to Alexanderplatz by metro or city train from any end of the city, you just need to choose the direction Center. But, since many hotels in the city are located in its center, it will not be difficult to find the main square, from which you need to make your way to the Victory Column.
Germany is famous for its attractions that reflect the history and architecture of this country. There are especially many magnificent monuments, architectural masterpieces and interesting places in Berlin, the capital of Germany.
One of the most beautiful and majestic attractions of this country is the Triumphal Column (Siegessule), which reflects the power and strength of the German people and is located on Big Star Square.
History of the appearance of the monument
The triumphal column appeared in the 19th century. by order of the monarch William the First as a symbol of the great victories in the Prussian-Danish War in 1864. However, by the solemn moment of the opening of this majestic monument, Prussia had managed to distinguish itself in the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, as well as in the Franco-Prussian battle in 1871. Consequently, it was decided to dedicate this beautiful monument to the victories in these three wars.
The creator of this magnificent monument of history and architecture of the country is the talented architect Johann Stract, but the statue of the Goddess of Victory itself was invented and embodied by the famous sculptor of his time Friedrich Drake, who was assisted by such masters as Alexander Calandrelli, Karl Keil, Moritz Schulz and Albert Wolf.
First, it was decided to install a column on Royal Square (or, as it is otherwise called, on Republic Square) in front of the Reichstag. However, then, by order of Hitler in 1938, the Triumphal Column was moved to Tigraten Park, on Big Star Square, where this majestic monument is still located.
Description of the monument
It is worth taking a closer look at the magnificent monument to Germany as one of the main attractions of the country.
The basis of the monument is a granite base depicting episodes of battles.
The column of the monument is made of 4 sandstone blocks, 3 of which symbolize the victory of Germany in 3 wars, but the fourth block was completed only in 1938 in connection with the unification of Germany and Austria. 
Each block is decorated with mosaics and captured weapons that were obtained during battles.
After the end of World War II, the French military achieved the removal of relief decorations due to the defeat of the Germans in this war, and only in the early 90s the monument was returned to its original appearance with relief decoration.
The statue of Goddess Victoria is about 8 meters high. Today, this statue has gilded clothes, for which the state allocated a kilogram of gold, as a result of which this statue is popularly called Golden Elsa.
The original height of the monument was 50 meters, but when it was transferred to the park complex, another tier was added, and now the height of the column is about 67 meters.
To see the beauty of majestic Berlin, you need to climb the stairs inside the column, which consists of 285 steps.
At the base of the column you can visit the historical museum, and also buy souvenirs for yourself, family and friends in an excellent souvenir shop.
You need to get to the observation deck in the Triumphal Column only through a passage, since the column itself is surrounded by a road. There are 2 entrances to the passage, which are gazebos.
The monument is open to visitors all year round, without breaks or weekends, to give everyone the opportunity to visit this landmark of Berlin.
Triumphal column in cinema and music
It should be noted that this monument was the meeting place of angels in the film “Sky over Berlin” directed by Wim Wenders. It is no coincidence that this particular column is presented as such an important place in this film history. 
U2 used the image of the Goddess of Victory in their video for the famous song "Stay".
This monument also played an important role in the work of musician Paul Van Dyck, who created his hit “For an Angel”, inspired by the splendor of the Triumphal Column as a monument of architecture and history of Germany.
The Triumphal Column represents an important element of German architecture and an excellent reminder of the people's victories in three wars, immortalizing glory and valor in a majestic column.
Address: Großer Stern, 10557 Berlin, Germany
The Victory Column is a monument to German history and a landmark of Berlin.
Victory Column built by order of William I in 1865-1873 in honor of the military victories of Prussia in the Danish War of 1864, the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, which ended with the unification of Germany. The height of the column is 69 meters. It is decorated with the barrels of cannons captured from the enemy, and is crowned with a figure of the Goddess of Victory Victoria, 8.3 m high and weighing 740 centners, popularly called Golden Elsa. To give a worthy shine to the goddess’s clothes, the city fathers allocated a kilogram of gold in 1987. There are 285 steps leading to this statue. On the 50th step you can take a break and admire the glass mosaics created in the workshop of the Venetian artist Salviati.
The bronze reliefs of the granite plinth depict battle scenes telling about the battles in these wars. The column was opened on September 2, 1873, on the third anniversary of the victory at the Battle of Sedan. From the observation deck at the feet of the goddess Victoria there is a beautiful view of the Tiergarten park.
Initially Victory Column was located on Royal Square (currently Republic Square) in front of the Reichstag, consisted of three parts and had a height of 50.66 m. In 1938-1939. The column was moved to Bolshaya Zvezda Square, where it is currently located. At the same time, a fourth part with a height of 7.5 meters was added to the column and the height of the column increased to 66.89 meters.
At an altitude of 48 meters there is an observation deck from which a magnificent panorama of the city opens. You can climb to the observation deck on foot using the stairs inside the column. Below, inside the column, there is a small historical museum. The column and the museum are open to the public in summer (from April 1 to October 31) - from Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 18:30, on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 to 19:00, in winter (from November 1 to March 31 ) - Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 17:30. Entrance to the museum and the observation deck costs 2.20? for adults and 1.50? for children, schoolchildren, students, etc. From April 1 to October 31, from 12:00 to 17:00 from Friday to Sunday, there is a souvenir shop inside the column.
In 1993 on the observation deck Columns of Victory A video clip was filmed for the theme of the song Stay by the Irish rock band U2
With this material we continue the series of publications about the best attractions of Berlin. The Victory Column is one of the places that will leave a lot of impressions and photographs after visiting it.
History of the building
In the 1830s, the Tiergarten, a former royal hunting estate, was converted into a 200-hectare park. Centrally located between the districts of Mitte and Charlottenburg, this place is now a great place for picnics and barbecues. Tiergarten is home to a unique cultural structure: the Victory Column.
The triumphal column was built in 1873 according to the design of Johann Heinrich Stack. It was intended to commemorate the Prussian/German victory over Denmark, Austria and France. The Victory Column originally stood on the Republic Square Platz. As part of the preparation of monumental plans to rebuild Berlin into the world's premier city, in 1939 the Nazi government ordered the monument to be moved to its current location in the "Big Star", the intersection of the city's main "axes". At this very time, the height of the column was increased by 7.5 meters, and now the height of the structure is 66.89 meters. The monument survived the Second World War without much damage. Relocating the monument may have saved it from destruction, as the site where it originally stood was reduced to dust by American air raids in 1945. The monument to German military glory was saved from destruction by the French after the end of World War II by the veto of the Americans and the British.
The Victory Column weighs approximately 35 tons and is 69 meters high. It is decorated with bas-reliefs of battles, and a mosaic border by Anton von Werner depicts the founding of the German Empire in 1871. At the top of the column stands the figure of Victoria, the goddess of Victory from Roman mythology.
From a symbol of war to a symbol of a party.
The Victory Column again began to appear in millions of photographs in the 90s of the 20th century, when the Love Parade was held near it. The figure of Victoria became the symbol of the Love Parade.
Another event put the Column on the covers of the tabloids when, in 2008, then US presidential candidate Barack Obama gave a public speech from it during his visit to Berlin.
There is an observation deck at the top of the Victory Column that offers beautiful views of Berlin. If you look east from it, you will see the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and of course the Berlin TV Tower. In 2010-2011, the column was under restoration, and today the observation deck is again open to the public. The pleasure of seeing Berlin at your fingertips is only 3 euros (this is the entrance fee) and 285 twisting steps.
Other interesting facts: One of the German magazines intended for the LGBT community. Currently it is called the “Victory Column”.
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The main city and capital of the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire, located at 52° 30 17 N. w. and 13° 23 47 E. (from Greenwich), on both banks of the Spree River, a tributary of the Havel, on a plain surrounded by minor hills (49 m above sea level... ...
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Coordinates: 51°30′27.8″ N. w. 0°07′40.7″ W. d. / 51.507722° n. w. 0.127972° W d. ... Wikipedia
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