Police Saturday said thieves made off with large parts of the copper plates on the roof of Berlin’s Victory Column.
The Tiergarten landmark is a major tourist attraction in central Berlin.
The theft was only noticed Friday when workmen sent by the district office to check on the gutters discovered large parts of the copper plates on the roof missing.
Police said it was unclear when the theft occurred. They have launched an investigation into the theft of “significant material and historical value.”
The Victory Column was built to commemorate German victories over Austria, France and Denmark between 1864 and 1871.
-
Typical Berlin: Top ten landmarks to visit
Brandenburg Gate
When the Brandenburg Gate was inaugurated in 1791, it was only one of many city gates, admittedly a particularly beautiful one. Today it is probably the most famous landmark of the city. The gate was surrounded by the Berlin Wall for almost 30 years. When the Wall fell on November 9, 1989, images of the Brandenburg Gate were seen around the world. Today it is symbolic of German unity.
-
Typical Berlin: Top ten landmarks to visit
Reichstag Building
Magnificent and sublime — this is how the Reichstag building stands in the heart of Berlin. During the German Empire, members of parliament met here. Since 1999, it has been the seat of the German Bundestag. The 23-meter-high (75.5 ft.) glass dome of the Reichstag is a major tourist attraction.
-
Typical Berlin: Top ten landmarks to visit
Berlin Cathedral
At 98 meters high, the main dome of Berlin Cathedral is the largest in the capital. It offers a fantastic view of the historic center of Berlin, but to enjoy it visitors have to climb 270 steps. Also worth seeing is the Hohenzollern Crypt, which contains around 100 coffins of the Prussian royal family.
-
Typical Berlin: Top ten landmarks to visit
TV Tower and World Time Clock
Two landmarks are united in this photo. At 368 meters, the television tower is the tallest building in Germany. In the sphere there is a viewing platform and a revolving restaurant. The 24 time zones of the world clock also rotate and display the time on all continents. The distinctive clock is a popular meeting place on Alexanderplatz.
-
Typical Berlin: Top ten landmarks to visit
Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie on Friedrichstrasse was probably the most famous border crossing between East and West Berlin during the Cold War and Berlin Wall era. At one time Soviet and American tanks confronted each other here, but now Berlin tourists can be photographed here — for a small fee, of course.
-
Typical Berlin: Top ten landmarks to visit
East Side Gallery
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, artists from all over the world came to Berlin and painted a 1.3-kilometer-long section of the wall along the Spree River — and the longest open-air gallery in the world was created. Some of the motifs have become photographic icons, such as the Brezhnev-Honecker “Bruderkuss” or “Brotherly Kiss” by Russian artist Dimitrji Vrubel.
-
Typical Berlin: Top ten landmarks to visit
Victory Column
In the middle of Tiergarten and surrounded by traffic stands the 60-meter-high Victory Column (the Siegessäule). It was built from 60 cannons, which were taken during the German unification wars 1864-1871. On top of it towers the goddess of victory, Victoria, who is popularly known as “Goldelse” — which translated would be “golden Elsa.”
-
Typical Berlin: Top ten landmarks to visit
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
The old church tower stands as a reminder of the destruction during the Second World War; the new tower recalls the effort of reconstruction. The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church at Breitscheidplatz is one of the landmarks of West Berlin.
-
Typical Berlin: Top ten landmarks to visit
The New Synagogue
The New Synagogue on Oranienburger Strasse was inaugurated in 1866 and was regarded as the largest and most magnificent in Germany. It burned down during the Second World War. In 1995 the reconstructed synagogue was consecrated a second time. Since then, the golden dome has once again shaped the silhouette of Berlin.
-
Typical Berlin: Top ten landmarks to visit
Molecule Man
These gentlemen are probably the newest landmarks of Berlin. In 1999, the 30-meter-high sculpture by American sculptor Jonathan Borofsky was placed in the Spree River between the districts of Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain and Treptow as a symbol of the reunited city.
Author: Kerstin Schmidt
ar/sms (AFP, dpa)
Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-part-of-victory-column-s-copper-plated-roof-stolen/a-58940502?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf