Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Hitler's favourite airport could be saved by (Jewish) investors
Flight Magazine ^ | May 23, 2007

Posted on 05/23/2007 10:22:37 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Berlin-Tempelhof, Hitler’s favourite airport, could yet be rescued by one of the world’s most influential Jewish philanthropists.

Cosmetics billionaire, New York socialite and art collector Ronald Lauder – son of the celebrated Estée Lauder - is behind a €350m (£235m) project to turn the Third Reich architectural relic into a luxury fly-in health clinic for Europe’s super rich.

Berlin's cash-strapped city fathers earlier this year finally cleared the way to develop the proposed new Berlin Brandenburg International (BBI) on the site of the present Schönefeld airport to the south east of the city, handling an annual 22 million passengers.

Inner city Tempelhof - as well as Tegel - was earmarked for closure as a result.

One of the few remaining pieces of Nazi architecture left in Berlin, the 104-year old airport existed well before the regime came to power: Orville Wright was one of the first to land there in 1903 while the first Zeppelin was exhibited six years later.

Hitler and his master planner, Albert Speer conceived a vision to convert Tempelhof into a massive celebration of fascist power designed to handle an annual six million people.

Architect Sagebiel was subsequently commissioned to build a raised stand for 65,000 spectators on the roof of the 3,000ft (900m) concave terminal to greet the Führer’s homecomings.

The airport’s historical role figured once again when it provided crucial access to West Berlin during the Western Allies’ Berlin Airlift in 1948.

Planners have been searching desperately for a use for the airport following its scheduled closure in October 2008 and under Lauder’s plans one of the two runways would be retained so that wealthy patients could visit using their own private jets.

Andreas Kaden, managing director of Schönefeld-based Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services is also president of the Berlin-Brandenburg Aerospace Association.

“Tempelhof is losing millions of euros every year and corporate aviation is certainly not going to provide the money needed to keep it going.

It however still has general aviation potential but it is fair to say that we are lacking ideas.

“The decision to close Tempelhof was taken very early on in the process of reviewing airport provision in the Berlin area and it has and continues to be the subject of constant discussion.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Germany
KEYWORDS: adolfhitler; airports; albertspeer; aviation; berlin; berlinairlift; esteelauder; europe; flyinhealthspa; generalaviation; lufthansaairlines; nazigermany; ronaldlauder; tempelhofairport; usairforce; wealthy
Oh, the irony...
1 posted on 05/23/2007 10:22:41 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
I’ve been there. It’s an interesting architecture.........
2 posted on 05/23/2007 10:29:05 AM PDT by Red Badger (My gerund got caught in my diphthong, and now I have a dangling participle...............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I’ve ridden on a light aircraft into there.

Now THAT’S interesting (if you like reaching out and touching buildings)


3 posted on 05/23/2007 10:58:22 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Definitely has that stormtroopers-and-showgirls architecture.
4 posted on 05/23/2007 10:58:37 AM PDT by George W. Bush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’d do an adaptive reuse on the terminal building, and develop the land currently occupied by the runways and aprons. That way you have saved the historically significant building.


5 posted on 05/23/2007 11:01:32 AM PDT by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VeniVidiVici
Now THAT’S interesting (if you like reaching out and touching buildings)

Kinda like DRIVING THRU some parts of Ault Spandau.......

6 posted on 05/23/2007 11:03:19 AM PDT by Red Badger (My gerund got caught in my diphthong, and now I have a dangling participle...............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

>> Orville Wright was one of the first to land there in 1903

The first powered flight at Kitty Hawk was in 1903! I think they meant to say “1909”.

When we went to Berlin last year we flew into and out of Tempelhof. It’s kinda cool. Too bad they’re planning to close it (except to the uber-rich, if Mr. Lauren has his way).


7 posted on 05/23/2007 11:14:41 AM PDT by Nervous Tick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick

Lauren == Lauder

Guess I don’t know my cosmetics magnates very well. ;-)


8 posted on 05/23/2007 11:16:09 AM PDT by Nervous Tick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket Kitler, who has taken over for the Hitler, would not comment.
9 posted on 05/23/2007 11:18:21 AM PDT by rbosque (L)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Plus the Berlin Airlift memorial ... locally known as the “Fork.”


10 posted on 05/23/2007 11:48:51 AM PDT by jamaksin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Nervous Tick
"The first powered flight at Kitty Hawk was in 1903! I think they meant to say “1909”."

See, the media is soooo very intelligent! Duh, 1776, duh, what happened then?

11 posted on 05/23/2007 12:09:43 PM PDT by Lockbar (March toward the sound of the guns.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

From 1985-1988 I was in charge of the Control Tower at Tempelhof. At that time there was not too much traffic but what we had was very interesting; several hijackings, airshows, President Reagan’s visit. There was even a large flock of sheep on the infield at Tempelhof. Shortly after the Wall went up a East German shepherd, together with several sheep, escaped into West Berlin. The Americans allowed him to graze his flock on the grassy areas south of the main runway. I wonder if he’s still there?


12 posted on 05/23/2007 7:34:45 PM PDT by ops33 (Retired USAF Senior Master Sergeant)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

The Army offered me a four-day weekend if I got my 53-pax bus license.

The course was two weeks long and I drove all over hell and creation throughout Berlin.

I never knew a city sized-bus could fit through some of the allies that exist there. Learning to drive and the subsequent details were not worth the four-day pass.

I can’t remember if I’ve driven through Spandau or not. But I did work nearby and have jogged by the outskirts.

I do definately remember driving by the prison a number of times before they tore it down.


13 posted on 05/23/2007 9:50:42 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson