Anyone been to Rostock, Lübeck or Hamburg?

[Richard Hargreaves]

I ask because I'm visiting there in late July (Rostock and Lübeck archives), Hamburg for a "city break".

Any tips on good bookshops, museums, WW2 sites gratefully received.

[Me-109 Jagdfleiger]

I have only been to Hamburg out of those towns, the best military sight I had seen when I was there was one of the Flakturm's in Heiligengeistfeld near the St. Pauli area, the tower is a must see, its amazing how big they are when you see one in person. Here are a few links on the tower
http://www.ww2museums.com/article/1681/ ... -tower.htm

http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... %26hl%3Den


and a Google maps link to pinpoint its location
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=hei ... a=N&tab=wl


Hope this helps, enjoy your trip

Jonathan

[John W. Howard]

Hello Rich:
I have a friend who just spent a month in the Rostock area. His wife's relatives live there and I believe some of those who lived through the war may still be alive. If you wish me to find out more, I will try. I am not sure if you are looking for first-person accounts from Rostock, but her relatives may be willing to help. Best wishes.

[Richard Hargreaves]

Hi John,

Thanks for the offer - but I should be ok; I have two days booked in the city archives, who've been very helpful (as have those of Lübeck; the latter's helped by the fact that the catalogue is online).

It's a bit of a departure for me. Having ignored the Bombenkrieg for the past 20 years, it's suddenly becoming an important strand of book no.4.

[John W. Howard]

Hi Rich:
Sorry it's taken awhile to get back to you. I am not sure how forthcoming the relatives might be, probably more forthcoming than my friend's wife; she does not seem very comfortable with questions about the war or post-war Communist rule. I thought she might make an exception and introduce you to her German relatives, given the fact that you are a published and responsible author. Good luck in Deutschland!!

[Richard Hargreaves]

Well, there's not masses to see in the three cities but for Hamburg I can endorse a trip to the top of the Nikolai Church steeple which gives a good overview of the city centre and accompanies an exhibition of images on the bombing.

The city museum is worth a visit; it's about a 20 minute walk from the Rathaus; in the northern end of the park is a Flakturm.

In Lübeck, a visit to the Marienkirche is worthwhile to see the two bells which crashed into the floor during the air raid in 1942 and have been left there. A trip to the top of the Petrikirche gives a good view of the city and gives you a bit of an idea of what was lost.

Not much in the heart of Rostock; most of it's been restored although there are some hideous DDR-era tower blocks and the like scarring the landscape. The tower of the Petrikirche, restored in the mid 1990s, is rather bland but gives a reasonable view of the city, although it's right at the eastern edge of the old town.