Oberleutnant Johannes Ording - Turmflak-Abteilung 414
Berliner Zoo Tower - 128 mm Flak gun. Bundesarchiv
While the Luftwaffe fought the Allies in the air, they also committed extraordinary resources to anti-aircraft defense on the ground. The epitome of these defenses were the flak towers, massive concrete structures designed to provide concentrated ground fire as well as bunker facilities for military personnel and civilians.
The towers were initiated after the Berlin bombing raid by the RAF on the night of August 25-26, 1940. Their design and execution were influenced by Hitler personally, partially the result of his embarrassment that his capital city was bombed. The original flak towers were constructed in Berlin based on designs submitted in October. The first was constructed in Berliner Zoo, while the second was built in Friedrichshain and the third was constructed in Humboldthain. Each tower was actually two structures. The first was the G-tower; it was the larger of the two and possessed the vast majority of firepower. The second was the L-tower – the command tower – which was lightly armed relative to the first tower and served primarily as fire control. At the time the initial towers were built, they were given top priority relative to other construction and defense projects throughout the Reich.
The G-towers were rectangular in shape and consisted of four massive gun towers on each corner. The main armament consisted of four 128mm flak guns and these were supported by numerous smaller caliber flak guns on lower levels. In addition to its armament, the towers served as barracks for the gun crews and auxiliary helpers. The towers had their own kitchen and hospital facilities and could serve as shelters for tens of thousands of civilians in the event of massive air attacks. While the towers possessed tremendous firepower and had the ability to inflict significant damage to Allied bombers, they served very much as a deterrent – they were built near residential or other areas of value in the interest of protecting that area from being bombed. For example, the three Berlin towers were essentially positioned in a triangle to protect the city center from being attacked, both by shooting at the actual planes and by steering enemy bombers away altogether.
As the Berlin towers were planned and constructed, other cities were given priority as well, including Hamburg and, later, Vienna. Hamburg, as Germany’s number two city, was slated for three sets of towers, two of which were ultimately built. The first pair was built in Heiligengeistfeld and followed the same design as the towers constructed in Berlin, the “first generation” design. The Heiligengeistfeld Gun tower stood over twelve stories high and featured reinforced concrete walls of 8 feet thick and ceilings that measured more than 11 feet thick. It included postal and hospital facilities, quarters for Luftwaffe communications units, various auxiliary personnel, as well as the crews of the tower’s various flak guns. It could also provide shelter to tens of thousands of civilians in and around the Heiligengeistfeld section of the city.
Similar to the Berlin Gun Towers, the main armament consisted of four 128 mm flak guns (later, four twin 128 mm flak guns). At Heiligengeistfeld, the guns were operated by the four batteries of Turmflak-Abteilung 414, of 3. Flak Division. The first two batteries were subordinate to Flak-Regiment 51 and the second two were subordinate to Flak-Regiment 16. Among the Luftwaffe personnel who served in the gun tower at Heiligengeistfeld was Oberleutnant Johanes Ording, an officer with 1./ Turmflak-Abteilung 414.
As Hamburg was Germany’s second largest city, was a key port on the Baltic Sea, and was an essential base for the Kriegsmarine’s U-boat operations and ship construction, it was bombed throughout the war. The city saw its first attacks in 1940, partially due to its proximity to RAF bases in England. Light attacks continued throughout the year, particularly on oil refining facilities, as the British looked to retaliate for German attacks on English targets during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. It was during these raids that Ording first distinguished himself. Serving as an Unteroffizier with 2nd battery of Res.Flak-Abt. 602, a heavy or schwere unit equipped with 88 mm flak guns, he was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class on October 5, 1940. His award was authorized by Luftgau XI, the local sector (headquartered in Hamburg) created for air control and air defense of the area. It was approved by Generalleuntant Ludwig Wolff, Luftgau XI commander.
With the construction of the Hamburg Flak Towers in 1942, it is likely Ording transferred from his role as an NCO with Res.Flak-Abt. 602 to serve with one of the tower units; probably 1./ Turmflak-Abteilung 414. By late 1944, Ording was an Oberleutnant, having been promoted on multiple occasions since he was awarded his Iron Cross Second Class. He was honored with the Luftgau XI Honor Shield (the Iron Shield of Honor) on December 24, 1944 for continued, outstanding achievement in defending the city. His award was quite likely in recognition of his continued service through Hamburg’s battle against Allied bombers, including the unprecedented Gomorrah raids of late July 1943. The raids, which essentially ran from July 25 through August 5, killed over 40,000 civilians along with the destruction of entire sections of the city by firestorm, causing the homelessness of almost one million city residents.
The towers were initiated after the Berlin bombing raid by the RAF on the night of August 25-26, 1940. Their design and execution were influenced by Hitler personally, partially the result of his embarrassment that his capital city was bombed. The original flak towers were constructed in Berlin based on designs submitted in October. The first was constructed in Berliner Zoo, while the second was built in Friedrichshain and the third was constructed in Humboldthain. Each tower was actually two structures. The first was the G-tower; it was the larger of the two and possessed the vast majority of firepower. The second was the L-tower – the command tower – which was lightly armed relative to the first tower and served primarily as fire control. At the time the initial towers were built, they were given top priority relative to other construction and defense projects throughout the Reich.
The G-towers were rectangular in shape and consisted of four massive gun towers on each corner. The main armament consisted of four 128mm flak guns and these were supported by numerous smaller caliber flak guns on lower levels. In addition to its armament, the towers served as barracks for the gun crews and auxiliary helpers. The towers had their own kitchen and hospital facilities and could serve as shelters for tens of thousands of civilians in the event of massive air attacks. While the towers possessed tremendous firepower and had the ability to inflict significant damage to Allied bombers, they served very much as a deterrent – they were built near residential or other areas of value in the interest of protecting that area from being bombed. For example, the three Berlin towers were essentially positioned in a triangle to protect the city center from being attacked, both by shooting at the actual planes and by steering enemy bombers away altogether.
As the Berlin towers were planned and constructed, other cities were given priority as well, including Hamburg and, later, Vienna. Hamburg, as Germany’s number two city, was slated for three sets of towers, two of which were ultimately built. The first pair was built in Heiligengeistfeld and followed the same design as the towers constructed in Berlin, the “first generation” design. The Heiligengeistfeld Gun tower stood over twelve stories high and featured reinforced concrete walls of 8 feet thick and ceilings that measured more than 11 feet thick. It included postal and hospital facilities, quarters for Luftwaffe communications units, various auxiliary personnel, as well as the crews of the tower’s various flak guns. It could also provide shelter to tens of thousands of civilians in and around the Heiligengeistfeld section of the city.
Similar to the Berlin Gun Towers, the main armament consisted of four 128 mm flak guns (later, four twin 128 mm flak guns). At Heiligengeistfeld, the guns were operated by the four batteries of Turmflak-Abteilung 414, of 3. Flak Division. The first two batteries were subordinate to Flak-Regiment 51 and the second two were subordinate to Flak-Regiment 16. Among the Luftwaffe personnel who served in the gun tower at Heiligengeistfeld was Oberleutnant Johanes Ording, an officer with 1./ Turmflak-Abteilung 414.
As Hamburg was Germany’s second largest city, was a key port on the Baltic Sea, and was an essential base for the Kriegsmarine’s U-boat operations and ship construction, it was bombed throughout the war. The city saw its first attacks in 1940, partially due to its proximity to RAF bases in England. Light attacks continued throughout the year, particularly on oil refining facilities, as the British looked to retaliate for German attacks on English targets during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. It was during these raids that Ording first distinguished himself. Serving as an Unteroffizier with 2nd battery of Res.Flak-Abt. 602, a heavy or schwere unit equipped with 88 mm flak guns, he was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class on October 5, 1940. His award was authorized by Luftgau XI, the local sector (headquartered in Hamburg) created for air control and air defense of the area. It was approved by Generalleuntant Ludwig Wolff, Luftgau XI commander.
With the construction of the Hamburg Flak Towers in 1942, it is likely Ording transferred from his role as an NCO with Res.Flak-Abt. 602 to serve with one of the tower units; probably 1./ Turmflak-Abteilung 414. By late 1944, Ording was an Oberleutnant, having been promoted on multiple occasions since he was awarded his Iron Cross Second Class. He was honored with the Luftgau XI Honor Shield (the Iron Shield of Honor) on December 24, 1944 for continued, outstanding achievement in defending the city. His award was quite likely in recognition of his continued service through Hamburg’s battle against Allied bombers, including the unprecedented Gomorrah raids of late July 1943. The raids, which essentially ran from July 25 through August 5, killed over 40,000 civilians along with the destruction of entire sections of the city by firestorm, causing the homelessness of almost one million city residents.
In March 1945, Ording was again recognized for his bravery. Almost five years after winning the Iron Cross Second Class, he received the Iron Cross First Class, on March 22, 1945. Effective the following day, Ording was honored with the Luftwaffe Flak Badge. His Iron Cross First Class was processed by Luftflotte Reich, the overall command tasked with the defense of German air space against the Allied strategic bombing campaign. His award was authorized by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff. His Flak Badge was authorized by 3. Flakdivision, commanded by Generalmajor Alwin Wolz.
Ording’s fate is unknown but he is believed to have served in Hamburg through the end of the war and survived. Hamburg, however, was almost completely destroyed. The city’s flak towers gave their best effort in defending the city. During the Gomorrah attacks, the 128 mm flak guns of the Heiligengeistfeld Gun tower are said to have fired almost ten thousand rounds. Between October 1942 and March 1945, 1./ Turmflak-Abteilung 414 is said to have shot down fifty planes. Nevertheless, the towers were essentially ineffective given their size, allotted resources and initial promise. The Allied attacks on Hamburg, particularly from the Gomorrah raids until the end of the war, were relentless. Hamburg was a city of rubble, and defenses like the flak towers were no match for the continued and concentrated Allied attacks on the city.
Ording’s fate is unknown but he is believed to have served in Hamburg through the end of the war and survived. Hamburg, however, was almost completely destroyed. The city’s flak towers gave their best effort in defending the city. During the Gomorrah attacks, the 128 mm flak guns of the Heiligengeistfeld Gun tower are said to have fired almost ten thousand rounds. Between October 1942 and March 1945, 1./ Turmflak-Abteilung 414 is said to have shot down fifty planes. Nevertheless, the towers were essentially ineffective given their size, allotted resources and initial promise. The Allied attacks on Hamburg, particularly from the Gomorrah raids until the end of the war, were relentless. Hamburg was a city of rubble, and defenses like the flak towers were no match for the continued and concentrated Allied attacks on the city.
While many of the large Flak Towers built during the war were dismantled on the post-war years, some still exist today, partly due to their massive size and the tremendous resources and efforts needed to actually dismantle them. Among them is the Heiligengeistfeld Gun tower which, despite its significant presence within the city district 70 years after the war, looms large but in peace. It is used as office space and houses various civilian entities.
The Heiligengeistfeld G-Tower at the end of the war. Note, the twin 128 mm Flak guns on the four corner towers.
A modern day image of the Heiligengeistfeld G-Tower
Sources:
The Luftwaffe 1933-1945 http://www.ww2.dk/
Foedrowitz, Michael The Flak Towers in Berlin, Hamburg and Vienna 1940-1945 Atglen: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 1998
The Luftwaffe 1933-1945 http://www.ww2.dk/
Foedrowitz, Michael The Flak Towers in Berlin, Hamburg and Vienna 1940-1945 Atglen: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 1998