Festung Königstein

Location:

The Festungs Königstein is located about 30km south-east of Dresden, Germany near the Czechoslovakian border.

Description

Königstein is fortress build in the 13th century and rebuild and improved in later periods. During the second World War, a part of Königstein (the "Altes Zeughaus") was used as a POW camp for mainly French and Polish high rank officers (with approximate 100 prisoners). This camp was know as Oflag IVB.

In the "Neues Zeughaus" of the Festung is a annex of the Dresden Military Museum. The focus of this museum is the history of special weaponry used for fighting fortresses.

Opening hours:

11 April - 31 September, daily 08:00-20:00
1 October - 31 October, daily 09:00-18:00
1 November - 10 April, daily 09:00-17:00

Curiosities:

• Parts of a French 22cm mortar (22cm Mörser 531 (f))
• A German 10,5cm leichte Feld Haubitze 18M
• A German 20mm Anti-Aircraft gun(2cm Flugzeug Abwehr Kanone drilling 151/20)
• A German Sd.Kfz. 302 (leichte Ladungsträger, Goliath)
• A Russian 132mm rocket for a BM-13 launcher ("Stalin Organ")
• A 21cm Peenemünde Pfeilgeschoss (A special arrow shaped grenade for penetrating concrete fortifications)
• Part of a 80cm Sprenggranate (80cm Sprgr. 'Dora')
• PC-6000 RS (A German rocket supported bomb)
• SC-2500 MAX (A heavy German bomb)

A German 21cm Peenemünde Pfeilgeschoss (PPG)		A German SC 2500 Max bomb