Following on from my compilation of a tour which took in some sites in the former East Germany, here is a place that I think deserves a separate report of its own.
There is plenty of history to be found about this important military site, dating back to the 1870's. It was an important site during WW1 and then re-militarized by the Nazis. The purpose of the Fliegerschüle was to both train pilots and act as a research facility for the Luftwaffe. The technical school contained its own wind tunnel, as well as a large workshop and a laboratory. The development and experimentation of new aviation parts used by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War was done here. Following WW2 the barracks that had once housed Bismarck’s Prussian troops, now became home to soldiers of the Red Army. A red star was painted above the Fliegerscüle entrance, and large Soviet realism artworks were painted on the internal walls of the buildings. The Fliegerschüle came to house units from both the Soviet’s air force and army. In order to differentiate between the two, the buildings to the right of the parade ground were painted a bright yellow and housed the air force, while the buildings to the left were painted a charcoal grey and housed the army. The airfield continued to operate as before, only now it was resident to Russian MIGs rather than Luftwaffe Junkers. That was the case until 1994, when the Red Army troops vacated Altes Lager and returned home. The Fliegerschüle now stands abandoned and derelict. Along with the other military sites at Wündorf and Jüterbog, this part of Brandenburg has since taken on an eerie feeling of forgottenness. The site that was so important for the original unification of Germany, has become a victim of its eventual reunification.
Some of the above has been shamelessly copied from the following
This explore was a highlight of the 2022 trip to Germany and the most challenging by a long way. Some other locations involved nothing more than walking in through an open door. The word was that the outfit that had taken over security were very proud of how good they were, so progress around the site was slow and with extreme care. A lot of patience and stealth and a bit of a climb was eventually rewarded.
Some of the Soviet murals remain - there were many more back in the day but these have been lost to time and the elements.
A brief parting note, I'm reliably informed it translates as 'Autumn. Mobilisation 1990'
There is plenty of history to be found about this important military site, dating back to the 1870's. It was an important site during WW1 and then re-militarized by the Nazis. The purpose of the Fliegerschüle was to both train pilots and act as a research facility for the Luftwaffe. The technical school contained its own wind tunnel, as well as a large workshop and a laboratory. The development and experimentation of new aviation parts used by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War was done here. Following WW2 the barracks that had once housed Bismarck’s Prussian troops, now became home to soldiers of the Red Army. A red star was painted above the Fliegerscüle entrance, and large Soviet realism artworks were painted on the internal walls of the buildings. The Fliegerschüle came to house units from both the Soviet’s air force and army. In order to differentiate between the two, the buildings to the right of the parade ground were painted a bright yellow and housed the air force, while the buildings to the left were painted a charcoal grey and housed the army. The airfield continued to operate as before, only now it was resident to Russian MIGs rather than Luftwaffe Junkers. That was the case until 1994, when the Red Army troops vacated Altes Lager and returned home. The Fliegerschüle now stands abandoned and derelict. Along with the other military sites at Wündorf and Jüterbog, this part of Brandenburg has since taken on an eerie feeling of forgottenness. The site that was so important for the original unification of Germany, has become a victim of its eventual reunification.
Some of the above has been shamelessly copied from the following
This explore was a highlight of the 2022 trip to Germany and the most challenging by a long way. Some other locations involved nothing more than walking in through an open door. The word was that the outfit that had taken over security were very proud of how good they were, so progress around the site was slow and with extreme care. A lot of patience and stealth and a bit of a climb was eventually rewarded.
Some of the Soviet murals remain - there were many more back in the day but these have been lost to time and the elements.
A brief parting note, I'm reliably informed it translates as 'Autumn. Mobilisation 1990'
. I spent a week in Brandenburg and did a few power stations but the military bases are quite tiring so we still only got round a couple. The ballrooms look great, haven't really looking into those. Also a load of sanatoriums out there. Think I'll be back eventually 
.
