Aviation Museum Finowfurt

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Aviation Museum Finowfurt
17-05-23-LHS Finowfurt RR70388.jpg
Aerial view of the Finowfurt Aviation Museum
Data
place Schorfheide OT Finowfurt
Art
opening 1992
Number of visitors (annually) 60,000-80,000
management
Klaus-Peter Kobbe
Website
ISIL DE-MUS-495116

The Aviation Museum Finowfurt is one of the aviation museums in Brandenburg . On the part of the former military airfield Eberswalde Finow , about 23 hectares, about 25 airplanes , helicopters , rockets , rail vehicles , cockpits , navigation instruments , engines and about 60 historical vehicles are presented in eight thematically structured exhibitions. Around 1.2 million guests have visited the museum since 1992. The Aviation Museum has been supported by the Verein Luftfahrtmuseum Finowfurt e. V. He is a member of the Brandenburg Museum Association , the German Air Force Ring and several regional associations.

concept

The aim of the museum work is to work on the history of aviation , especially for the north-east area of ​​Brandenburg and especially at the Eberswalde - Finow location , and to make it accessible to the public. The results of the museum's work are presented with permanent and special exhibitions, specialist conferences and guided tours. The methodical principle "Historical processes in the fate and activity of people" should be presented. The work in the museum is carried out by volunteer members of the association and amateur professionals. The association has bought one of the four squadron areas of an airfield last used by the Soviet air force with a size of approx. 23 hectares and has kept its structure with all buildings and infrastructural facilities in its originality and functionality since 1993. This unit of historical technology at an original location is known both as a film location and as a location for major cultural events. The museum structure also includes a specialist library and a workshop for restoration and repair work.

Location

Lenin statue on the museum grounds

The Aviation Museum uses the north-western part of a military airfield that was abandoned by the Soviet Air Force in 1993. In the 1970s, a total of twelve shelters and ammunition bunkers as well as a larger relay building (4th relay) were built on an area of ​​23 hectares . This infrastructure was put into use by the museum association from 1990. Since almost all of the former Soviet military airfields on German soil have been re-used and converted (commercial use, warehouses, photovoltaic systems ) after 1993 , relay complex 4 at Eberswalde Finow airfield (aviation museum) has a unique selling point. Only a new access road to the road network was built in 2004. In the vicinity of concrete buildings, 40-year-old succession processes can be observed in the plant and animal areas (including bat populations ). On the basis of a lease agreement, the museum sporadically uses parts of a 60-hectare property that served as a supply base for all Soviet troops stationed in the Eberswalde area until 1993. On this site, which is in the immediate vicinity of the museum's western border, there was a bakery and a school for training bakers of the Red Army . At the entrance to the museum there has been a statue of Lenin since 2013 , which formerly stood on the site of a barracks of the Soviet Army in Eberswalde .

Background to the foundation of the museum

At the time of the GDR there were around 1,500–2,000 amateur aviation historians who met regularly in a loose organizational structure (cultural association work; “Otto Lilienthal” interest group of the Interflug airline). This interest was offset by the fact that until 1990 there was no museum specializing in aviation in the GDR (only departments in the Dresden Transport Museum; the Potsdam Army Museum and the regional Lilienthal Museum in Anklam ). So it came about that after 1990, aided by the turnaround , new museum foundations were funded. Today, with around 25 privately run museums, collections and military-historical institutions in the area of ​​the former GDR, there is probably the greatest density of such institutions in all of Germany. The Aviation Museum Finowfurt was one of the earliest initiatives when it was founded in March 1991. Together with the leadership of the Soviet units on the Finowfurt square and some politicians, it was possible to initiate the first activities to found the museum without public financial support. The first step was taken in spring 1992 with the opening of the museum. Rescue organizations and municipal bodies were needed for so-called labor market projects. The responsible museum founders took advantage of this situation. A few hundred unemployed citizens from the surrounding area found employment on the museum premises, especially between 1991 and 1998.

history

Period from 1910 to 1945

In the pioneering days of German aviation, for example, Eberswalde citizens were active in Johannisthal around 1912 . After that, the politicians' interest in this area of ​​technical development died out, apart from a few minor episodes. It was only when the National Socialists came to power in 1933 that efforts to train young aviators intensified. The focus was on glider training. It was only very late, in comparison with other airfields in this period from 1940, that the work on an operational airport was completed. At the same time, a so-called Luftzeugamt (LZA) was created at the site through personnel and structural relocation from the LZA Jüterbog to Finow (the name “Finow” is correct, as this airfield was part of the Finow urban area at the time). Up until the end of the Second World War, this space was mainly used for the training and qualification of pilots, supplying the Eastern Front with supplies and for converting combat aircraft close to the front. Towards the end of the III. Empire occupancy of the square was more than one side. Attack pilot, fighter pilot and reconnaissance units alternated in quick succession. The so-called KG 200 should receive special attention. Its first squadron in connection with the technical capacity of the squadron was present in Finow from mid-1944. Despite great secrecy efforts by this particular association, the museum was able to show new details about the work of this unit. Another chapter arises with the stationing of different night hunting units and the connection to the associated technical devices, which were mainly tested by the Werneuchen test center. The so-called special-purpose weapons can also be identified from 1945 in the fighting between Oder and Berlin at Finow airfield. Rudel's “Kanonenstuka” as well as the training aircraft retrofitted with bazookas, the Bücker 181, and the so-called “mistletoe” were on the field for short visits. These and other measures could not prevent the end of this terror regime. At the end of April 1945 the last German troops vacated the site. The processes briefly described here are further deepened in a thematically subdivided exhibition on the subject of "Finow military airfield in World War II". Special attention is paid to the representation of plane crashes in this region up to 1945. Due to the intense aerial battles, especially after 1943, there are numerous crash sites of American bombers, Soviet fighter planes, British escort fighters and German fighters. This sometimes very complicated rescue and reconnaissance work is carried out by the museum at great expense. In many cases, the fate of the pilots could be proven specifically and reliably. This work has brought the museum the thanks of many affected families at home and abroad. These results are particularly important for museum educational work - after all, they fulfill the self-chosen principle of explaining complicated historical processes through personal fates. Examples of this work can be viewed in the main building of the museum and in Shelter No. 3 in the immediate vicinity.

Period from 1945 to 1993

This period of airfield use, used by the Soviet Air Force, is characterized by numerous changes of units and larger extensions. First in 1945 combat units with attack aircraft IL-2 and American fighters of the type P-39 were stationed. With the permanent stationing of the 16th air army of the Soviet occupation army on German soil, front bomber units were increasingly concentrated near Berlin and thus also in Finow. Before that, there was a short interlude when the first fighter aircraft with jet engines MiG-15 were deployed , which were installed on the field. In the 1960s, the most modern fighter planes, fighter-bombers and reconnaissance aircraft from the "family" of the Jak-27 and Jak-28 were stationed at this place or distributed to other places via this place by transfer flights. During one of these flights, on April 6, 1966, a Jak-28P crashed into the Stößensee in what was then the British sector of Berlin. This crash and rescue operation, which was highly regarded at home and abroad at the time, was intensively investigated by the museum and the results were exchanged with contemporary witnesses from the families of the crashed pilots in Russia. Knowledge of this and other chapters of the so-called Cold War can be deepened in special exhibitions through special tours and through a German-Russian book publication.

According to studies by L. Freund u. a. Approx. 600 pilots and crew members perished on the Soviet side during the Cold War in East Germany. Today we only know the names of the victims in a few cases and we know even less about the circumstances and fate of the people. Similar to the events of the Second World War , the work of the museum concentrates precisely on these individual personal aspects and thus makes the dimensions of this work visible and understandable in the first place. Intensive construction work increased the length of the runway, especially in the early 1970s, and built around 58 concrete aircraft shelters. This greatly enlarged space was then occupied from mid-1971 by the 787th fighter regiment , initially equipped with MiG-21 fighter planes . Later, squadrons with MiG-23 variants flew here . Particularly interesting was the relocation of two squadrons of the Soviet MiG-25P and PD interceptors from 1982 onwards , which was previously only documented in Finow . This stationing was the Soviet response to the relocation of American SR-71 Blackbird special reconnaissance aircraft to positions in southern England. Through a special symposium in 2013 on this topic and the personal memories of a MiG-25 pilot on his missions in Finow and their summary in book form, new contributions to this extremely dangerous chapter of the Cold War could be made. From 1989 the 787th regiment was equipped with one of the most modern and powerful fighter aircraft of the time, the MiG-29S . These fighters were in service until the withdrawal in 1993. A special exhibition deals with the development and operational principles of this particular aircraft.

Period since 1993

Shortly after the fall of the Wall, it became known through relevant publications that the military property of the airfield, which would be vacated from 1993, would attract a lot of interest from investors and some entrepreneurs. At that time a member of parliament said that "circling sharks" had allegedly already been seen at the airfield. This should speed up the privatization process. So it happened. The interested parties could be seen coming and going. The airfield was at times an object of speculation. Basically only two initiatives from the beginning of 1991 have survived to this day - a flight school on the east side and the aviation museum on the west side of the field. Today there are huge photovoltaic fields in between. These processes, which are only briefly described here, are currently being worked on and will be presented in a special exhibition in 2016.

Timeline of the museum's history

date Happening
May 16, 1991 Soviet members of the airfield, scientists and hobby historians of the region founded the sponsoring association for the Finow airfield .
March 1991 The Eberswalde district council discussed possibilities for civilian use of the Finow airfield, museum concepts were initially rejected.
June 26, 1991 The Federal Ministry of Defense decided not to use the Finow airfield for military purposes.
Aug 18, 1991 The interest group organized the 1st open day at the Eberswalde Finow airfield, which attracted around 60–80 thousand visitors. The objectives of the sponsoring association were presented to the public for the first time.
1992 The community of Finowfurt and the Soviet air force signed a contract for future joint use of the airfield until the troops withdrew. For the establishment of a museum, it is agreed that the site of the 4th season will be made available .
March 1992 The first stage of expansion of the museum with the official name: "Aviation History Collection Finowfurt LHS" was opened.
March to August 1992 The museum was able to take over large aircraft such as Mi-8 helicopters , a Tu-134 airliner, an agricultural aircraft, and MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighters .
26 Sep 1992 The museum area is complete and the LHS was opened by high-ranking politicians during a ceremony. The collection was approved for year-round use.
May 10, 1993 The 787th Fighter Regiment as the last Soviet flying unit said goodbye at the airfield. The few subordinate political representatives of the German side promised, among other things, a future civilian use and the preservation of the memory of the Soviet engagement in the almost fifty years of use of the airfield.
1994-1998 The museum area is being expanded and by using the labor market projects: • First aviation archaeological projects • Rescue of rare aircraft from scrapping: Jak-28R ; An-2 expanded.
1998 The status “Aviation Museum of the State of Brandenburg” was awarded after the application and defense by the Brandenburg Ministry of Culture.
1998 The sponsoring association was named “Aviation Museum Finowfurt e. V. “at; he is the legal and organizational successor of the LHS.
since 2000 There are attempts to use the large outdoor areas for large events (Roadrunner's Festival RACE61)
since 2000 In connection with these events, there are a total of 16 film projects by well-known film productions that were created on the museum's premises.
since 2003 Annual major events such as Roadrunners, Ostfahrzeugtreffen and meetings of the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) (2007 and 2011) take place. As a result, these and numerous smaller public events increased the level of awareness and ensured the association's economic independence.
since 2004 Start the first social projects for disadvantaged children and adults with sustainable results.
2004 A new access road was laid out with great commitment from the community of Finowfurt . At the same time, some shelters were refurbished as part of a convergence project by the EU .
since 2004 The operators gain practical experience with museum conferences in connection with new exhibitions, above all through increased cooperation between specialist and amateur historians and contemporary witnesses. A first specialist working group is established under the umbrella of the museum.
2005 Welcoming the millionth visitor to the museum since its inception.
since 2008 Stable relationships develop between the Aviation Museum and the Airborne Forces Officers' College in Ryazan, south of Moscow , resulting in joint projects and book publications.
A Mil Mi-2 police helicopter at the east vehicle meeting

Major events

Linking cultural and museum work with elements of tourism engagement is a tried and tested concept, especially for the preservation and expansion of private collections and museums. The management of the Aviation Museum Finowfurt also used this to maintain and expand the Aviation Museum. Initially with smaller events for companies and organizations, later with self-developed themed events, the level was gradually increased and extensive experience gained as an organizer or host for large events. In 2007 and 2011 the Chaos Communication Camp with around 3000 participants took place on the premises. Today events such as the Ostfahrzeugtreffen, the Roadrunner`s Festival RACE61, the museum festival are established in the cultural life of the region and far beyond.

Exhibits

Planes

helicopter

Engines

Wrecks

Others

See also

literature

  • Lutz Freundt: Soviet Aviation Forces Germany 1945–1994 . Freundt self-published, Diepholz 1998, ISBN 3-00-001493-4 .
  • Olaf Kersten, Hans Georg Löffler, Reinhard Parchmann, Siegfried Stoof: Garrisons of the NVA and the GSTD - on the use of the military locations from 1871 to 2010 . Publishing house Dr. Köster, Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-89574-750-2 .
  • Klaus-Peter Kobbe: Messages of history from the Aviation Museum Finowfurt - A historical tour of the Finow airfield .
  • Günter Schmitt (Ed.): When the vintage cars flew - The history of the Johannisthal airfield . Transpress Verlag, Berlin 1980.
  • PW Stahl: Secret Squadron KG 200 - The truth after more than 30 years . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1978, ISBN 3-87943-543-X .
  • Horst Schuh: Missing on the Oder front - now recovered. After 51 years the FW 190 was found in a lake by Lieutenant Grapenthin . In: Jet & Prop . No. 5 , 1996.
  • Helmut Bukowski, Rolf Apel: Märkische Heimat for aviators and aircraft construction - On the history of Strausberg aviation 1913–2001 . Satz & LitoCenter Strausberg, 2001, ISBN 3-00-008381-2 .
  • AF Agarew, K.-P. Kobbe, R. Großer, IW Sisowa: In the sky over Berlin - a tragic side of the Cold War era . Publishing house The Russian Word, Ryazan 2012, ISBN 978-5-89877-201-7 (Russian and German).
  • Lutz Freundt (Hrsg.): Himmelsstürmer - Air accidents and graves of the Soviet Army in Germany . AeroLit Verlag, 2008, ISBN 978-3-935525-13-8 .
  • Lutz Freundt (Ed.): Red places - Russian military airfields - Germany 1945–1994. Air bases - aerodromes - military bases . AeroLit Verlag, 2004, ISBN 3-935525-11-7 .
  • AF Agarew, K.-P. Kobbe, R. Großer, IW Sisowa: On the Defense Line - The Fate of a Person in the Context of the Cold War . The Russian Word Publishing House, Ryazan 2013, ISBN 978-5-89877-200-0 .
  • Alexander Neubacher: Blinded: High costs, hardly any performance. The subsidy burdens for solar electricity have exceeded the 100 billion euro mark and are endangering the energy transition . In: Der Spiegel . No. 3 , 2012.

Web links

Commons : Aviation History Collection Finowfurt  - collection of images

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Lutz Freundt: Soviet Aviation Forces Germany 1945–1994 - Type catalog of aircraft, airfield facilities and protective structures, airfields. Volume 1: A-F. Freundt self-published, Diepholz 1998, ISBN 3-00-001493-4 .
  2. ↑ Olaf Kersten, Hans Georg Löffler, Reinhard Parchmann, Siegfried Stoof: Garrisons of the NVA and the GSTD - on the use of the military locations from 1871 to 2010. Verlag Dr. Köster, Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-00-001493-2 .
  3. ↑ Folded plan - German aerospace sites - an overview - Issue 1: Germany North. Verwaltungsverlag München o. J.
  4. ↑ a b Klaus-Peter Kobbe: Messages of History from the Aviation Museum Finowfurt - A historical tour of the Finow airfield. Aviation Museum Finowfurt.
  5. ↑ Günter Schmitt: When the oldtimers flew - The history of the Johannisthal airfield. Transpress Publishing House for Transport, Berlin 1980, DNB 810401320 .
  6. ↑ PW Stahl: Secret Squadron KG 200 - The truth after more than 30 years. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1978, ISBN 3-87943-543-X .
  7. ↑ Horst Schuh: Missing on the Oder front - now recovered - after 51 years, the FW 190 was found by Lieutenant Grapenthin in a lake. In: Jet & Prop. 5/1996, pp. 36-37.
  8. ↑ Helmut Bukowski, Rolf Apel: Strausberg - Märkische Heimat für Flieger und Flugzeugbau - On the history of Strausberg aviation 1913-2001. Satz & LitoCenter Strausberg, 2001, ISBN 3-00-008381-2 .
  9. ↑ AF Agarew, K.-P. Kobbe, R. Großer, IW Sisowa: In the sky over Berlin - a tragic side of the Cold War era. The Russian Word Publishing House, 2001, ISBN 3-00-008381-2 . (Russian and German)
  10. ^ Lutz Freundt: Himmelsstürmer - Air accidents and graves of the Soviet Army in Germany. AeroLit Verlag, 2008, ISBN 978-3-935525-13-8 .
  11. ^ Lutz Freundt, Stefan Büttner: Red places - Russian military airfields - Germany 1945-1994. Air bases - aerodromes - military bases. AeroLit Verlag, 2008, ISBN 978-3-935525-11-4 .
  12. ↑ AF Agarew, K.-P. Kobbe, R. Großer, IW Sisowa: On the Defense Line - The Fate of a Person in the Context of the Cold War. GUP RO - Ryazan Regional Printing House 2013, ISBN 978-5-89877-200-0 .
  13. ^ Lutz Freundt, Stefan Büttner: Red places - Russian military airfields - Germany 1945-1994. Air bases - aerodromes - military fallow. AeroLit Verlag, 2008, ISBN 978-3-935525-11-4 .
  14. ↑ Werner, E. Bankruptcy: Finow airfield - 16 years of missed opportunities. In: Barnimer Bürgerpost. November 8, 2011.
  15. ↑ Johannes Madeye: Effects on Finowfurt - Insolvency of the Solarhybrid company affects small local entrepreneurs - community well secured. In: Barnim Echo. MOZ, March 23, 2012, p. 11.
  16. ↑ Alexander Neubacher: Blinded: High costs, hardly any performance. The subsidy burdens for solar electricity have exceeded the 100 billion euro mark and are endangering the energy transition. In: Der Spiegel. No. 3, January 16, 2012, pp. 18-22.
  17. ↑ Märkische Oderzeitung (MOZ), March 15, 1991.
  18. ↑ Märkische Oderzeitung (MOZ), August 20, 1991.
  19. ↑ Märkische Oderzeitung (MOZ), from June 26, 1991.
  20. ↑ Märkische Oderzeitung (MOZ), March 15, 1991.
  21. ↑ Märkische Oderzeitung (MOZ), April 17, 1993.
  22. ^ Barnimer Blitz, March 15, 1991.
  23. ↑ Märkische Oderzeitung (MOZ), from February 27, 2003.
  24. ↑ Märkische Oderzeitung (MOZ), July 23, 2003.
  25. ↑ Märkische Oderzeitung (MOZ), August 25, 2003.
  26. ↑ Barnimer Blitz of August 28, 2004.
  27. ↑ Frederik Obermaier: Visit to the Chaos Communication Camp - Hochamt of the Hackergemeinde Süddeutsche Zeitung on August 12, 2011.


Coordinates: 52 ° 49 ′ 55.1 "  N , 13 ° 40 ′ 36.4"  E