Schönwalde-Glien, Brandenburg, Germany
I shouldn't have turned up here mid afternoon, I didn't realise the place was humungous.
The site as it was in 1940.
It actually took me the best part of 7 hours to wander and enjoy the stillness of times gone bye. So this is day one of my little adventure.
Simple simple simple, parking up on the street of an industrial estate and just ....... well strolling in
Guard post and entrance to Schönwalde, photo taken by Heinz Knoke in 1940.
Schönwalde, built in the 1930s as a Luftwaffe air base, was operational throughout WW2, from 1943, the airfield became the location of the supplementary and transport aircraft group of the XIV Air Corps.
Schönwalde airfield taken by Heinz KNOKE in 1940.
The buildings and infrastructure date mostly from the time when the Luftwaffe were based here, in 1945 the base was conquered by the Soviets and remained in their possession until 1992, following reunification. It has remained abandoned ever since.
I have never quite got my head around groups of naked men sharing a bath, then whipping each others buttocks with various bits of trees and bushes. it must be the effects of imbibing copious amounts of vodka. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
So lets go upstairs, maybe take a sauna too.
Beneath was just I guess the non=business end, where the fires were stoked to allow the boys some warm relief above.
This hanging fabric does not appear that old, though the slipper does.
When the Soviets took control of the airfield they used it for various functions, but due to its location in the Berlin air corridor, the use for planes was restricted and eventually ended by 1950. A squadron of Helicopters was based here until the mid 60's, from then on until the Soviet withdrawal the site was used as barracks by the 843rd Guards Artillery Regiment and the 25th Guards Tank Division
Other than some long faded lettering there was little else in here.
So, let's stroll in here, no windows to climb through nor doors to squeeze through. Wide open spaces.
And lets stroll out again nothing of great interest left in here.
Now rusted with exposure to the elements, and unhelpfully trashed by someone with a paint can the plan of the site for visiting drivers can just be made out beneath, ( if you zoom in squint and have a vivid imagination)
A rough look through google translate, suggests this placard goes into great detail in relation to biological and viral risk and contamination
Security measures
WHEN HANDLING A WEAPON
Health and safety in the Soviet camp, in relation to the use of firearms on site, I think this is for those on guard duty as it goes into detail about collecting loading cleaning and wearing of firearms and the attached bayonet.
Was this the armoury? The words combat tasks are above the door.
Hard to say as inside was totally wrecked with no real clues.
Let's take a break, Soviet overload.
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