In 1939, Hitler ordered that the famous Siegessäule be placed at the center of the roundabout. The 67-meter-tall Victory Column was designed by Johann Heinrich Strack in 1873 to celebrate Prussian successes in the wars against France, Denmark and Austria and had stood opposite the Reichstag until that time.
The Siegessäule, visible everywhere in the park and a symbol of Berlin, rises up from a broad square base topped by a colonnade of pillars. The entire exterior is decorated with reliefs recalling German battles and victories. At the top is a bronze winged statue of Victory by Friedrich Drake.
There are 285 steps inside the monument that will take you up to a platform where you can enjoy superb views of the park.
Let me leave you with an interesting fact: the Victory Column has become a meeting point and a symbol of Berlin’s LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, and indeed the city’s most famous gay magazine is called “Siegessäule”.
