urbex Germany -

Rangsdorf Airport – from Operation Valkyrie to Operation Urbex

Gosia — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 11:00:38 +0000

Rangsdorf Airport, opened on 30th July 1936, just before the Summer Olympics in Berlin, was initially intended to serve passengers arriving for the Olympics. It was a small airport with a grass runway, primarily meant for sport and recreational flights. However, its history quickly took unexpected turns. Wartime Fate of Rangsdorf Airport After the outbreak of World War II, from October 1939 to March 1940, Rangsdorf became Berlin’s main airport. Authorities feared that Tempelhof Airport would be a major target for bombing raids. Ultimately, Tempelhof resumed its function, and Rangsdorf was converted into a military facility used by the Luftwaffe. From 1939 to 1945, the Bücker Flugzeugbau plant operated here, producing aircraft parts. In 1940, the airport was expanded. A new hangar, Einfliegerhalle, was built because the original 1935 hangar burned down in a tragic accident. A trainee pilot crashed into the hangar filled with other aircraft, causing the fuel tanks to explode. Another factory hall, Sonderbauhalle, was constructed in early 1940 and was reportedly used for building and testing secret designs. Operation Valkyrie Rangsdorf Airport also played a significant role in one of the most important attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler. On July 20, 1944, around 7 a.m., Claus von Stauffenberg and Werner von Haeften departed from here to Rastenburg for a meeting at the Wolf’s Lair with the intention of assassinating Hitler. After placing the bomb, Stauffenberg left the meeting, returning to Rangsdorf at 3:45 p.m. Believing the assassination had succeeded, he ordered the start of Operation Valkyrie. Unfortunately, Hitler survived, and Stauffenberg and von Haeften were shot soon after returning. Post-War History and Decline Just before the end of the war, the Bücker plant ceased production. Aircraft parts and machinery were taken over by the Red Army and transported, along with dismantled buildings, to the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, the site housed repair facilities for piston and later jet engines. In 1985, a communication bunker was built on the airport grounds, remnants of which, including old equipment and newspapers, can still be seen today. After the Russians left on July 21, 1994, the airport was left with remains of aircraft, rockets, and military equipment. Urbex and New Plans Since 1994, Rangsdorf Airport has been abandoned, with the buildings gradually falling into ruin. Nature has steadily taken over the old hangars, which now resemble an interesting botanical garden. Despite being listed as a historical monument, the site is neglected and deteriorating. Since 2018, the airport has had a new owner who plans to transform the area into a residential complex. Rangsdorf Airport, with its rich and turbulent history, is an extraordinary place that has witnessed many changes and events. Its future seems to depend on new urban development plans, which I hope will preserve this historic site.

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Bagger 1473 Excavator – The Blue Wonder of Engineering

Gosia — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:53:45 +0000

The Beginnings of Bagger 1473 Excavator Bagger 1473, a monumental excavator produced by the German company VEB Schwermaschinenbau Lauchhammerwerk, began its work in a lignite surface mine in 1965. For decades, it served in extraction operations, becoming an integral part of the industrial landscape. When it finished its service in 2002, the natural consequence was to send it to the scrapyard. However, thanks to the initiative of local authorities, this giant of engineering was saved. The Second Life of the Excavator Instead of being scrapped, Bagger 1473 was transported 9 kilometres from the mine and placed in an open field. Unfortunately, ongoing decay and numerous acts of vandalism led to renewed calls in 2019 for it to be cut up for scrap. This time, protests from the local community and former miners saved the excavator from being dismantled. Consequently, the Office for the Protection of Monuments placed it on the list of historical monuments. The Blue Wonder Bagger 1473 earned the nickname “Blue Wonder” due to its unusual color – remnants of a pale blue hue can still be seen in places, despite it being mostly covered in rust now. Impressive Specifications However, it’s not just the charming blue colour that makes Bagger 1473 so unique. First and foremost, it’s the excavator’s gigantic dimensions. The machine stands 50 meters high and is nearly 172 meters long, weighing an impressive 3850 tons. Its crawler undercarriage consists of six parts and allows it to move at a staggering speed of 6 meters per minute. The excavator’s buckets have a capacity of 1.5 cubic meters each, and its 67-meter-long wheel boom allows for digging to a height of 35 meters and a depth of 15 meters. With a working power of 5555 kW, this machine was incredibly efficient in its operations. Exploration The structure is fascinating both outside and inside. It remains stable enough to allow for interior exploration, but the progressing rust has caused the metal framework to become unstable in places. Therefore, caution is advised when exploring. Inside, you can find numerous technical rooms, control centres, and social areas. Despite the passage of time, many interesting artifacts have been preserved, making it a truly intriguing site to explore. 😉 The Future of Bagger 1473 Although the excavator has been recognized as a historical monument, its future remains uncertain. Discussions about its potential scrapping are still ongoing. Nevertheless, for many people, Bagger 1473 stands as a symbol of the region’s industrial history and technical heritage, which is worth preserving for future generations. The Bagger 1473 excavator is not only an impressive example of engineering but also an important part of local history and identity. Although its fate remains uncertain, the “Blue Wonder” continues to be a fascinating testament to the industrial past and a reminder that even such machines can become incredibly interesting landmarks. Do you like this post? Check out more here!

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Berlin in ruins part II, Teufelsberg – Devil’s Hill

Gosia — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 17:17:50 +0000

In the competition for the weirdest place in Berlin, Teufelsberg, which in translation means – Devil’s Hill is definitely on the podium. The attractiveness of Teufelsberg was initially noticed by the Nazis. Under the direction of Albert Speer – Hitler’s architect, the construction of the military academy began on this site. The investment wasn’t completed due to the war, which took most of the expenses. After the war, the Allies attempts to blow up a solid German construction, ended with covering it with the debris, transported form bombarded Berlin. As a result, a pretty large 80-meters hill – the highest point in Berlin, was created. Initially, it was considered to be a perfect location for the ski slope, but after some time the joy of skiers came to an end. The beautiful view of Berlin attracted American and British attention, who set up a spy station here. It’s said that the National Security Agency (NSA), eavesdropped their neighbors from the Eastern Block, using radars located in characteristic 5 domes, reaching 10 meters of diameter. Some people say that Teufelsberg was a part of ECHELON – a global electronic intelligence network. Reportedly, at the peak of activity, there were about 1500 British and American spies working here. The station had been operating for more than 30 years, as it was only in 1992 when the Americans decided to pack their toys and leave this place. Spiritual renewal – a visit to the devil? After the German unity, there were many ideas on how to develop Teufelsberg, but none of them have been implemented. Even David Lynch was interested in Devil’s Mountain. He wanted to create a meditation center here, but he didn’t get permission from the authorities to run this project. Finally, Teufelsberg was handed over to the company that organizes tours an various events here. Details and admission fees can be found here. Characteristic domes are a thing of the past, however, they are still the ones that make this place unique. The white canvas that used to cover them, today makes a characteristic rustling sound in the wind. It really gave me the creeps. Murals, as well as various sculptures and installations, make an amazing impression. How to get to Teufelsberg? Car is the best option to get there. You can park on one of the 2 car parks, from which you can take the path through the forest to the top of the hill. To get there by public transport you need to get on the S-Bahn S3, S5, S75 and get off at the Berlin-Grunewald Station. From there you should follow Dauerwaldweg st. and then the Harbigstrasse st. from which you should turn right to the parking lot. From there leads the above mentioned path to the top of the hill.

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Berlin in ruins – an invitation to after party

Gosia — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 15:38:37 +0000

Finally, it’s time for a post about Berlin, but I won’t focus on charming, elegant places. On the contrary, it’s time to write about Berlin in ruins! Practical to the bone, the Germans have mastered the art of bringing back old buildings to life. A similar direction is currently seen in Warsaw, however, on a smaller scale and in a completely different way. How do Germans do it? Very simple. The resuscitation of these places has nothing to do with the German perfection. They assume, that there’s no point of changing something that is iconic itself, due to its history and unique character. Tempelhof Airport Tempelhof airport, closed since 2008 is a perfect example of German ingenuity. What can be done with an unprofitable airport located near the centre of Berlin? An iconic meeting place! Runways are perfect for skaters, and the green area in the middle for numerous events or just a barbecue. The airport building is also available for sightseeing, details can be found here.The special sightseeing option attracts many tourists here, because the airport has a really interesting history. The airport was built in 1924. The plans for the construction of the great Third Reich included its extension. However, the airport wasn’t used during World War II according to its intended purpose. Weapons and bomb planes were produced in the airport’s hangars. What’s more interesting during the war it wasn’t virtually bombed. The Allies didn’t want to destroy such a strategic point that they could use later. Soon after the War, it turned out that they were right. Although, just after the Berlin conquest, the Red Army handed over the airport to the US Army, a few years later, West Berlin was blocked. Tempelhof played a key role at that time. In the period from June 1948 until May 1949 the Allies organized there an airlift to provide local residents with food and other necessary products. Over time, these aircrafts were called “raisin bombers” or “candy bombers”, because in addition to essential goods, Americans also provided sweets for children. Tempelhof is an airport especially close to Poles, its location in close proximity to the border with Poland made it the “hub” of hijacked aircrafts and refugees from Poland during the Cold War. Numerous flights, especially in the 80’s, completely changed the meaning of the shortcut of Polish National Airline – LOT. The name began to be translated as: Landing on Tempelhof, or landet oft in Tempelhof (from German: landing often on Tempelhof). Temeplhof is the setting of many famous films such as the Bourne Supremacy, Steven Spieldberg’s – Bridge of Spies and Hunger Games.You can get here by metro – U6 line towards Platz der Luftbrücke. Get off at the Tempelhof station, which is on the other side of the airport. Haus Schwarzenberg Street Art Haus Schwarzenberg is an interesting, hidden place, in the center of Berlin. In the small courtyard there are countless murals, workshops, cinema and bars. Actually, it’s hard to believe that on such a small surface you can see so many different works, mosaics and other artistic installations. However, it’s not just an alternative hangout that many in Berlin. You can visit there the Museum of Otto Weidt’s workshop for the Blind (Museum Blindenwerkstatt Otto Weidt), who during WWII, employed blind Jews to protect them from being killed by Nazists. What’s more interesting, the they produced brooms and brushes… also for Wehrmacht. On the spot you can also visit the exhibition dedicated to Anne Frank. The entrance is located right next to the characteristic Anne Frank mosaic. You can find the courtyard of Haus Schwarzenberg at Rosenthaler Straße 39, next to Café Cinema. Ballhaus rivera – party is over Ballhaus is a real urbex gem among all alternative places in Berlin. The Ballroom is a piece of history. It was built in 1890 and from the very beginning it was a popular event spot. The perfect location, right on the banks of the Dahme river, was an ideal place to relax. Although it survived WWII intact, in the following decades lost the competition with other such places. The last event took place here in 1990 and since then the building has been living its own life, from year to year becoming more and more devastated. The area is off limits to visitors, and the building is on the verge of collapse, but that’s the charm of visiting such places 😉 The area is surrounded by a fence, but no extraordinary skills are needed to get there. All the entrances to the building, are locked of course, but some huge windows are open… 😉 The interior makes an amazing impression. The great ballroom is lit by rays of sunlight passing through the windows. You can still see here the decorated ceiling with the remains of the crystal chandelier. At the central point there’s a scene, with the old piano. I visited Ballhaus in 2018. This place certainly looks different now, I wonder if it still exists. If you have any information, leave a comment 🙂

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