Within the forests of Germany, the Wehrmacht constructed numerous training spaces and temporary living quarters for its soldiers. The majority have been demolished by the government as they are no longer required.
Forst Zinna, otherwise known as Adolf Hitler Lager, was established in 1934 during the early days of the Third Reich. During World War II, it operated as a Nazi military training base, consisting of numerous multi-story buildings. These included soldiers’ barracks, training rooms, administration facilities, a theatre, and a prison. In 1945 Forst Zinna was captured by the Red Army. Immediately after the war it was used as a displaced persons camp, housing refugees from Eastern Europe and former inmates from Nazi concentration camps. Most were there against their will and only allowed to leave in collective transports tasked with deporting them to their home countries. In 1947 the ‘Deutsche Verwaltungsakademie’ turned it into the ‘The German Academy of Public Administration’ with the intention of training the DDR political elite, but the site was taken over again by the Soviet Army in 1950 and remained under their control until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 90s.
The last Soviet soldiers left Forst Zinna in 1994, leaving this huge military site completely abandoned. The German authorities began demolishing the complex in 2007 but despite extensive demolition work a lot of the buildings still remain intact today. Further demolition work is scheduled to take place but seems to have stalled for the time being.
I spent a full day in here with @Adders, @Sids, @scrappy, expert tag along, gill, and snappel. You could easily be fooled into thinking there isn't much worth seeing here after checking a few empty buildings, but there's actually tons of interesting stuff if you can be bothered to keep looking for it. In fact we struggled to get around the whole site in a day so I popped back on my own for a few more hours the next day, and I've still only seen about three quarters of the place! I'm glad we made it here while it's still standing. Thoroughly enjoyable explore 11/10. Long report ahead....
The majority of the complex consists of two storey accommodation blocks like this
There wasn't much inside a lot of them, especially on the ground and first floors. Mostly just bathrooms....
....and long empty rooms with ceramic heating units, presumably for accommodating troops.
Down in the basements however there were quite a few interesting things to be found. Bits of old army uniforms amongst other things....
Soviet posters
Photos of Lenin and Gorbachev on display
An old office space with a red star embossed desk
Details of the 19th communist party reunion
As well as the basements, the roof spaces also had a few gems tucked away....
This attic in particular had an abundance of decaying gas masks. Not something you see every day!
This war themed mural was on display in the entrance to the former theatre....
....where unfortunately the auditorium has totally collapsed
Elsewhere there was a small block of prison cells
Oil or fuel tanks.
A couple of old military trailers with some stuff inside
A bunker containing an underground reservoir for storing oil
Forst Zinna, otherwise known as Adolf Hitler Lager, was established in 1934 during the early days of the Third Reich. During World War II, it operated as a Nazi military training base, consisting of numerous multi-story buildings. These included soldiers’ barracks, training rooms, administration facilities, a theatre, and a prison. In 1945 Forst Zinna was captured by the Red Army. Immediately after the war it was used as a displaced persons camp, housing refugees from Eastern Europe and former inmates from Nazi concentration camps. Most were there against their will and only allowed to leave in collective transports tasked with deporting them to their home countries. In 1947 the ‘Deutsche Verwaltungsakademie’ turned it into the ‘The German Academy of Public Administration’ with the intention of training the DDR political elite, but the site was taken over again by the Soviet Army in 1950 and remained under their control until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 90s.
The last Soviet soldiers left Forst Zinna in 1994, leaving this huge military site completely abandoned. The German authorities began demolishing the complex in 2007 but despite extensive demolition work a lot of the buildings still remain intact today. Further demolition work is scheduled to take place but seems to have stalled for the time being.
I spent a full day in here with @Adders, @Sids, @scrappy, expert tag along, gill, and snappel. You could easily be fooled into thinking there isn't much worth seeing here after checking a few empty buildings, but there's actually tons of interesting stuff if you can be bothered to keep looking for it. In fact we struggled to get around the whole site in a day so I popped back on my own for a few more hours the next day, and I've still only seen about three quarters of the place! I'm glad we made it here while it's still standing. Thoroughly enjoyable explore 11/10. Long report ahead....
The majority of the complex consists of two storey accommodation blocks like this
There wasn't much inside a lot of them, especially on the ground and first floors. Mostly just bathrooms....
....and long empty rooms with ceramic heating units, presumably for accommodating troops.
Down in the basements however there were quite a few interesting things to be found. Bits of old army uniforms amongst other things....
Soviet posters
Photos of Lenin and Gorbachev on display
An old office space with a red star embossed desk
Details of the 19th communist party reunion
As well as the basements, the roof spaces also had a few gems tucked away....
This attic in particular had an abundance of decaying gas masks. Not something you see every day!
This war themed mural was on display in the entrance to the former theatre....
....where unfortunately the auditorium has totally collapsed
Elsewhere there was a small block of prison cells
Oil or fuel tanks.
A couple of old military trailers with some stuff inside
A bunker containing an underground reservoir for storing oil
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