Tempelhof Airport

Steeped in aviation history and the controversy in depth, the field level, scarce now known as the Tempelhofer Freiheit was once a bustling center of the Berlin airlift. 

The Tempelhof district bordering Schöneberg, Kreuzberg, Neukölln and just 15 minutes south of Mitte in U6. The earth itself airport covers 282 acres of beautiful space, very open, and airport buildings more than 1 kilometer long stretch. 

In 1909, pioneer Orville Wright achieved the unthinkable in the air above the meadow iconic Berlin flight in their own contrivance succeeded in suspending himself in the air for 60 seconds. World War I saw the rapid advances in aviation technology and the German airline Lufthansa took off from Zürich to Berlin Tempelhof.

A disturbing dark side of the history of Tempelhof reared its ugly head during the Nazi era. An imposing terminal was built in record time by the Nazi architect Albert Speer, covering aesthetics that Adolf Hitler had in mind for his "Germania" beloved. Especially opponents of the new Nazi regime of Hitler - Since 1933 a concentration camp known as Columbia or Colombia House to house political prisoners was used until 1936. 

In 1945, to take control of the airport, the Soviets bombed the entrance to an underground bunker three stories containing precious material early aerial film taken by Lufthansa. The pump adjusts the highly flammable celluloid film in flames, creating an inferno that could not go for a number of weeks. The charred and blackened the "Film Bunker" walls are still visible today. During the Cold War, the complex was used by the Armed Forces of the United States as a military base, completing the construction of the output terminal, expansion of buildings, and installation of large-scale energy facilities and hot water. The airport had a significant role in the Berlin Airlift of 1948/1949. 

Tempelhof Airport flourished in the 1960s and 70s, such as air transport became very popular and some of the directors and actors of the world's most glamorous resort used for red carpet events. Once the Berlin Tegel airport was completed in 1975 with its provisions for larger planes and longer tracks landing, Tempelhof passenger count declined rapidly, causing airlines to move their base of operations at Tegel, one one. Talking about a major international airport in Berlin began in the mid-1990s, and the government decided to cancel the air traffic in Tempelhof. Despite the opposition, the closing took place in 2008, leaving a thriving center previously abandoned and empty transport.

Aerial view of airport Tempelhof in 1945 

Tempelhof Revival 

Berlin authorities announced in 2009 that the previously abandoned field was reopened the following year as a public park. The four square kilometers of grassland expanding protected as a historical monument, is made ​​available to the public, marking the Tempelhofer Freiheit as the country's largest park. 

Suddenly, public space comes alive again, skaters, cyclists, personal trainers, riders and kite surf. The Berliner Kiteschule offers kite surfing and kite surfing courses in place, and in the warmer months, the park is full of all kinds of outdoor activities. Tempelhofer Freiheit remains hugely popular for outdoor events, including the famous Berlin Film Festival. 

The buildings are still standing, and today, the tours will take you through some of the fascinating interior spaces. You can see stunning eighteen meters high Sagebiel Ernst room entrance, railway tunnels, the air raid shelter bunker film, and a ballroom. Enjoy one of the most stunning panoramic views of the city from the rooftop terrace of the airport.

The first terminal of Tempelhof Airport 

What now? 

The future of Tempelhofer Freiheit was for a time uncertain. Major urban development was planned for outside the park, where up to 4,700 residential units were to be built to help control the population explosion in Berlin. Other development plans of office space in airport buildings, investment quarter of the city and the urban park landscaping were also on the cards. However, investors and authorities have recently found a strong resistance to development plans, in particular the organization 100% Tempelhofer Feld, who collected more than 185,000 signatures that voted against the property development and resulted in a popular vote on the subject. In the May 25, 2014 the Berlin hit the polls and emphatically rejected plans to build in the park ... and so - the people have spoken, Berlin listen! 

"Citizens have decided that everything remains as is. And that's what we'll do." 

Mayor Klaus Wowereit -Berlin.