What does der Eisendrache mean? An in-depth look at the iconic Zombies map

Hey friend! Terry here, back again with another deep dive into the lore of Call of Duty Zombies. Today, we‘re exploring the history and meaning behind one of the most beloved Zombies maps – Der Eisendrache. Grab your Wunderwaffe and buckle up! This is going to be one wild ride.

Origins of Der Eisendrache

Der Eisendrache was first introduced in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 as part of the Awakening DLC pack. The map is set in a gothic medieval castle in Austria during World War 2. Many Zombies fans, including myself, consider it to be one of the best maps Treyarch has ever created.

According to the official backstory, the castle was built in the 1300s by a German emperor named Frederick Barbarossa. The massive stronghold was named "Eisen Drachen Schloss" which translates to "Iron Dragon Castle." Centuries later, in 1939, the castle was taken over by the Axis Powers and used for scientific experiments by Group 935, a secret Nazi research group.

Group 935‘s goal was to build futuristic super weapons by meddling with dark matter and archaic forces. Their experiments inevitably went too far, ripping open a portal between dimensions and unleashing the undead hordes. And thus, Der Eisendrache was born.

Deciphering the Map‘s Name

The name "Der Eisendrache" is German and literally translates to "The Iron Dragon" in English. This refers to the map‘s iconic Wunderwaffe or "wonder weapon" – a mechanical bow and arrow dubbed the Storm Bow.

To build the Storm Bow, players must power up and charge the weapon at stations located around the map, awakening the ancient "Iron Dragon" locked deep below the castle walls. The Storm Bow deals massive damage with electrified arrows and is instrumental in defeating Der Eisendrache‘s main Easter egg quest.

Here are some other translations related to Der Eisendrache:

• Wunderwaffe – "Wonder Weapon" in German
• Großes Messer – "Great Knife"
• Der Meister – "The Master"
• Jägermeister – "Hunt Master"

Analyzing the Map‘s Layout

Der Eisendrache contains a number of key locales and features that really make this map unique. Here‘s a quick overview of the main areas and what goes down in each:

• Spawn – Where players begin each match. Features Quick Revive and plenty of rubble to barricade windows.

• Courtyard – Open area surrounding the main castle. Contains a portal, fountain, and the door to the bunker.

• Bunker – Underground lab with chalk weapon outlines and the bow quest starter.

• Bastion – High open tower with a portal and the Wolf Bow charging station.

• Armory – Starting point for the Lightning Bow quest. Watch out for fiery traps!

• Bell Tower – Windy tower with a portal perfect for launching arrows. Charge the Void Bow here.

• Crypt – Flooded underground space with narrow walls. Complete the Fire Bow ritual in the crypts.

• Teleporters – Linked portals allowing quick travel between major areas.

The History of Group 935

To fully appreciate Der Eisendrache‘s story, we need to understand the background of Group 935. This covert Nazi science division was founded in the 1930s by Ludwig Maxis, an ingenious German scientist seeking to advance human technology.

Group 935 engineered many wartime wonders, like teleporters, elemental staffs, and of course, the Ray Gun. But they also delved into dangerous fringe experiments using Element 115 to create undead super-soldiers. Maxis lost control of his research, causing the events of every Treyarch Zombies map to unfold.

Several Group 935 members are key characters in the Zombies storyline:

• Edward Richtofen – Maxis‘ unstable protege. The iconic voice of Zombies.

• Tank Dempsey – American soldier and Ultimis crew member. Loves blowing stuff up.

• Nikolai Belinski – A Russian soldier obsessed with vodka. Provides lots of comic relief.

• Takeo Masaki – Japanese warrior and part of Primis/Ultimis. Focuses on honor and discipline.

The Quest for the Summoning Key

Der Eisendrache revolves around the four original characters – Dempsey, Nikolai, Takeo, and Richtofen – as they pursue the Summoning Key to defeat the Shadowman. The Key can capture and preserve souls. Richtofen believes it is the key to ultimate power.

The main Easter egg quest involves:

• Turning on power and accessing Pack-a-Punch

• Building and upgrading all four elemental bows

• Feeding dragon statues souls to receive the Viking helmet

• Fighting the keeper boss and retrieving the Summoning Key

Completing this lengthy multi-step quest rewards players with a chilling cutscene that progresses the Zombies storyline.

Personal Thoughts on Der Eisendrache

Der Eisendrache remains one of my favorite Zombies maps of all time for several reasons:

• The medieval castle setting provides gorgeous visuals and creepy atmosphere. Storming the battlements as undead knights approach truly feels like an epic last stand.

• Upgrading the powerful bows is an absolute blast and provides a fun objective. The lighting effects and sounds are incredibly satisfying.

• The Easter egg quest is challenging but very rewarding. The dramatic story events make it feel impactful.

• Small details like the posters, radios and wolf portraits really help drive home the Nazi-occult vibe.

• Fast-traveling via teleporters and riding the Panzer Soldat claw truly change up the gameplay.

Clearly, I‘m a huge fan of Der Eisendrache. The map represents a peak in Zombies map design before things took a more convoluted turn in Black Ops 4. The setting, quests, and characters perfectly capture the mix of sci-fi and horror that makes Zombies so entertaining even today. Let me know your thoughts on Der Eisendrache and the other epic Zombies maps! Until next time, this is Terry signing off.