The History:
In the late 1800s, the Imperial Navy used the Altenwalde Heath area in Prussian territory to carry out troop maneuvers. In 1912 a facility was created with a camp of accommodation barracks, a shooting lane and gun emplacements. From July 23, 1917, the Paris gun was tested here.
From 1932, the use of the shooting range was severely restricted and in 1937 a man with a moustache took over the site, the facility was massively expanded by 1940. In addition to concrete firing ranges, gun sheds, a gantry crane system, facilities for measurement and weather observation, ammunition warehouses, laboratories and workshops, supply and disposal facilities, accommodation, administration and commercial buildings were created. A rail network of standard and narrow-gauge railways ran through the site. The facility extended over the area later used for the barracks and beyond.
After the small second disagreement, the gantry crane system was blown up by the British forces on 10 December 1947. Further dismantling took place in 1948. The firing positions were demolished between 1959 and 1962. In order to obtain information about the technology, construction and use of the V2 ("Vergeltungswaffe 2"), the Western Allies initiated Operation Backfire in 1945. On 22 July 1945, a group of specialists led by Wernher von Braun was brought from prison in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Altenwalde.
With the founding and development of the Bundeswehr from 1955 onwards, the Federal Ministry of Defence required troop accommodation. Making use of the site the began expanding the location. By 1989. A total of 112 buildings were built on the 73-hectare property.
After the dissolution of the Panzergrenadier Battalion 73 in 1992 ever larger parts of the barracks were empty. Some buildings, such as sports facilities, were already being used for civilian purposes. The barracks were finally completely abandoned by the Bundeswehr on the 30th June 2014.
We found dates as late as 2016 inside one of the buildings, but nothing beyond that.
Below is a comparison of aerial views. 2021 | Overlay | 1945
Left photo from July 1917, showing a signal mast and the long-range gun "Wilhelm" firing. | Right image shows the gantry crane, in front of it an A4/V2 (British Operation Backfire/1945).
The Explore:
On a cold and foggy day, we made the effort to arrive early with intent to make the most of the daylight and see as much as we could.
Finding a way through the perimeter fence, we cautiously may our way towards the vast collection of buildings. Knowing security did patrol the area, we had to move slow, but first made our way into the cafeteria. The place had been cleared out long ago, with only a few items remaining. But I've always loved military architecture and there were some really nice rooms, along with decor I never expected to see.
There was practically no vandalism, lots of lovely natural decay and almost all the buildings were accessible. Quite a lot of the buildings had small bunkers in the basements, but most had some level of flooding.
We got to see some of the air filtration systems and found some really cool artwork that must have been done by the soldiers at some point.
Moving through one of the barracks, we found ourselves inside the engine house. Happy to have made it into one of the older structures, we took our time documenting everything we could find.
Getting closer to areas we suspected to be watched, we made a dash to what turned out to be the old gym, but shortly discovered a drone flying around outside.
Wondering if we had been spotted somehow, we took off into the woods and retreated to another building at the edge of the site. Being uncomfortably far from the way we entered, we decided to wait for an hour and see if there was any activity.
With all seeming quiet, we tried to look at a few more buildings when as we headed outside a pickup truck started speeding towards us, ducking back in the door, it drove by and we waited a few mins before deciding we'd probably pushed it enough. It was time to leave.
Making our way through the trees, we headed for the fence line and hoped we'd find another opening. We got lucky and made an escape.
All in all, was an amazing explore, even though it was ended abruptly.
Thanks for taking a look!
In the late 1800s, the Imperial Navy used the Altenwalde Heath area in Prussian territory to carry out troop maneuvers. In 1912 a facility was created with a camp of accommodation barracks, a shooting lane and gun emplacements. From July 23, 1917, the Paris gun was tested here.
From 1932, the use of the shooting range was severely restricted and in 1937 a man with a moustache took over the site, the facility was massively expanded by 1940. In addition to concrete firing ranges, gun sheds, a gantry crane system, facilities for measurement and weather observation, ammunition warehouses, laboratories and workshops, supply and disposal facilities, accommodation, administration and commercial buildings were created. A rail network of standard and narrow-gauge railways ran through the site. The facility extended over the area later used for the barracks and beyond.
After the small second disagreement, the gantry crane system was blown up by the British forces on 10 December 1947. Further dismantling took place in 1948. The firing positions were demolished between 1959 and 1962. In order to obtain information about the technology, construction and use of the V2 ("Vergeltungswaffe 2"), the Western Allies initiated Operation Backfire in 1945. On 22 July 1945, a group of specialists led by Wernher von Braun was brought from prison in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Altenwalde.
With the founding and development of the Bundeswehr from 1955 onwards, the Federal Ministry of Defence required troop accommodation. Making use of the site the began expanding the location. By 1989. A total of 112 buildings were built on the 73-hectare property.
After the dissolution of the Panzergrenadier Battalion 73 in 1992 ever larger parts of the barracks were empty. Some buildings, such as sports facilities, were already being used for civilian purposes. The barracks were finally completely abandoned by the Bundeswehr on the 30th June 2014.
We found dates as late as 2016 inside one of the buildings, but nothing beyond that.
Below is a comparison of aerial views. 2021 | Overlay | 1945
Left photo from July 1917, showing a signal mast and the long-range gun "Wilhelm" firing. | Right image shows the gantry crane, in front of it an A4/V2 (British Operation Backfire/1945).
The Explore:
On a cold and foggy day, we made the effort to arrive early with intent to make the most of the daylight and see as much as we could.
Finding a way through the perimeter fence, we cautiously may our way towards the vast collection of buildings. Knowing security did patrol the area, we had to move slow, but first made our way into the cafeteria. The place had been cleared out long ago, with only a few items remaining. But I've always loved military architecture and there were some really nice rooms, along with decor I never expected to see.
There was practically no vandalism, lots of lovely natural decay and almost all the buildings were accessible. Quite a lot of the buildings had small bunkers in the basements, but most had some level of flooding.
We got to see some of the air filtration systems and found some really cool artwork that must have been done by the soldiers at some point.
Moving through one of the barracks, we found ourselves inside the engine house. Happy to have made it into one of the older structures, we took our time documenting everything we could find.
Getting closer to areas we suspected to be watched, we made a dash to what turned out to be the old gym, but shortly discovered a drone flying around outside.
Wondering if we had been spotted somehow, we took off into the woods and retreated to another building at the edge of the site. Being uncomfortably far from the way we entered, we decided to wait for an hour and see if there was any activity.
With all seeming quiet, we tried to look at a few more buildings when as we headed outside a pickup truck started speeding towards us, ducking back in the door, it drove by and we waited a few mins before deciding we'd probably pushed it enough. It was time to leave.
Making our way through the trees, we headed for the fence line and hoped we'd find another opening. We got lucky and made an escape.
All in all, was an amazing explore, even though it was ended abruptly.
Thanks for taking a look!
