Karlshorst: 9 May 1945 German Surrender and KGB Rezidentura in Berlin

On the anniversary of the German surrender at Karlshorst, east Berlin, in the presence of Marshal Georgy Zhukov, a bit of history—and lots of photos—about Karlshorst, which was used for administration of the Soviet Zone (1945–49); and later housed the biggest KGB station in the world (1954–1991).

**The KGB** ***Rezidentura*** **in Karlshorst, Berlin**

**Map of east Berlin; pin drop shows location of Zwieselerstraße 4**

Karlshorst: Site of Capitulation and Soviet Administration

The Third Reich surrendered unconditionally to Soviet forces at 00:16, 9 May 1945, at Zwieselerstraße 4, Karlshorst, in the Lichtenberg section of east Berlin. The Zwieselerstraße 4 building is today the Deutsch-Russisches Museum. 8 May 1945 is accepted as the date of surrender since the capitulation document reflects this date. A surrender had been signed 7 May 1945 at Rheims, but another signing on 8 May by German military officers was deemed necessary. The Museum’s website has details.

The Karlshorst building had been a German army (Heer) mess hall. It was occupied by Georgy Zhukov (Георгий Жуков; 1896–1974) as commander of the 1st Belorussian Front; later, when Zhukov became the commander of the Soviet Zone (1945–49), the mess hall and surrounding buildings were employed by him for Soviet administration in Berlin.

Karlshorst: KGB HQ in Berlin

The vicinities expanded and the Soviet administrative center became a massive compound. The SE corner of the rectangular compound—the long sides run N/NE—is located just NW of Zwieselerstraße 4, at the junction of Zwieselerstraße and Bodenmaiser Weg (“way”). The compound encompassed the area bounded by Rheinpfalzallee (north), Bodenmaiser Weg (S), Zwieselerstraße (E), and Aberstraße (W). It contained the offices of the MGB (МГБ: Министе́рство госуда́рственной безопа́сности СССР; “Ministry of State Security”; 1946–53), the Soviet intelligence service (replaced by KGB, 1954–1991). The KGB Berlin Rezidentura (“Residence”)—equivalent to CIA’s “Berlin Station”—had about 1,200 staff at its peak, making it the largest KGB station in the world. The “old neighborhood” is no more, of course. It’s gentrified and exceptionally dull!