The reconstruction of Berlin after World War II is still ongoing more than 80 years after the end of the war. That is why you see empty building sites and tall cranes everywhere.

There are also ruins left behind by air raids and the consequences of war in general. Here are four of the most famous ruins from World War II, plus a bonus, to remind us of the horrors of war.

The Ruin of Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The most famous ruin in Berlin is probably the ruins of Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on Breitscheidplatz. The church was destroyed in an air raid on November 23, 1943.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that the church was rebuilt, though not in the style of the original church. Architect Egon Eiermann was hired to build a modern church around the church tower, which lay in ruins.

Read more about Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church here

The Ruin of Anhalter Bahnhof

Anhalter Bahnhof was hit by air raids three times during World War II. The first time was in 1943, and twice more in 1945.

In fact, the train station was still in operation after the war in divided Germany. But it was located in West Berlin, and long-distance trains suddenly stopped running there.

In August 1960, the Western powers finally demolished the bombed-out ruins, but they left the station entrance standing as a reminder of both glorious and dark times.

Read more about Anhalt Bahnhof here

The Ruin of the Franciscan Monastery Church

The Franciscan monastery church was an architectural marvel.

The monastery church was built in the 13th century and served as the home of the Franciscan Order. It served as an inspiration for other Franciscan churches in Brandenburg and the Stettin area. And for Berlin’s legendary architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

However, the church met its fate on April 10, 1945, when it was hit by an air raid. Today, the ruins of the Franciscan monastery church stand as an architectural reminder of the Middle Ages in Berlin.

Read more about the Franciscan monastery church here

The Ruin of Brommybrücke

Brommybrücke was a prominent bridge connecting Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. The bridge was completed in 1909 and was intended to relieve some of the pressure from the increasing traffic across the Spree River.

Toward the end of the war, when the Red Army invaded Berlin, the German army blew up this and several other bridges to prevent the Soviet soldiers from advancing.

Unlike the other bridges, the Brommybrücke was never rebuilt, and its ruins can be seen from the end of Brommystraße in Kreuzberg.

Read more about Brommybrücke here

The Building Academy at Schinkelplatz

This is not an actual ruin but a reconstruction of a corner of the Schinkel Building Academy, which was severely damaged in an air raid in 1945.

Schinkel’s Building Academy was a training ground for modern architects in the 19th century and was named after the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

The severely damaged building was partially rebuilt in 1956, but a few years later it was completely demolished to make way for the GDR’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The corner of the building that stands today is a reconstruction from 2004, built in memory of the school of architecture that served as a model for modern architecture in the 19th century.

Read more about Schinkel’s Building Academy here