'Forbidden city' tells Germany's complex military history

SUMMARY

The "Haus der Offiziere," or officers' complex, which was inaugurated in 1916 and has since housed the military of German Emperor Wilhelm II, served as the Nazis' command center for the Army during World War II and was the headquarters for the Soviets' military high command, is abandoned since the last Russian soldiers left the compound in 1994.

By APMar 9, 2019 4:02:13 PM IST (Published)

This photo shows a part of the abandoned "Haus der Offiziere", the headquarters for the Soviets' military high command in former East Germany at the Wuensdorf neighbourhood of Zossen, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Berlin. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

This photo shows view out of a window in the abandoned "Haus der Offiziere", the headquarters for the Soviets' military high command in former East Germany. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

This photo shows a wall relief inside the abandoned "Haus der Offiziere", the headquarters for the Soviets' military high command in former East Germany. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

In this photo, a Lenin monument stands in front of the abandoned "Haus der Offiziere" the headquarters for the Soviets' military high command. (AP Photo/Raphael Kominis )

This photo shows the staircase inside the abandoned "Haus der Offiziere." (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

This photo shows the broken power and heat supply station of a swimming pool in the abandoned compound. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

This photo shows wall relief with Lenin, right, lights inside the abandoned "Haus der Offiziere." (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

This photo shows the swimming pool in the abandoned compound. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

In this photo, a monument of the Soviets' stands in front of an abandoned house at the compound. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

The doors stand open in a corridor of the abandoned "Haus der Offiziere." (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)