Mariental-Horst

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Administration building of the former air base with road passage

Mariental-Horst is a district of the municipality of Mariental in the Helmstedt district in Lower Saxony . It was built after 1945 on the site of a former air base by reusing the existing barracks.

Military history

The Mariental Air Base was established between 1937 and 1940 near the village of Mariental on the edge of the Lappwald forest. The military facility was used by the German Air Force during World War II . In the extensive barracks there were various units, such as a flying school and paratroopers- and driver training units stationed. The airfield was not paved, but consisted of a solid sward on a field. During the war, the air base mainly housed school associations. This resulted from the central geographical location in Germany and the resulting large distances to the fronts. A combat squadron was only stationed here towards the end of the war, with the fronts approaching. In 1944 the Allies carried out an air raid on the air base, which caused only minor damage. On April 14, 1945, the air base was occupied by American troops. After a short time, they were replaced by British units who blew up the military fortifications in 1946. The civil usable buildings were preserved.

Civil history

Immediately after the Second World War, the Allies housed forced laborers and concentration camp prisoners from the area in the barracks . There were also displaced persons from the former German eastern regions. Due to the expulsion from Silesia , Mariental-Horst temporarily became a transit camp for around 500,000 people, which was closed in 1947.

  • Building in Mariental-Horst, probably the former commandant's office, school after 1945.

  • Rows of buildings

  • Main building with archway

  • Street train

  • archway

Establishing a settlement

On July 1, 1950, the air base was taken over by the German administration. From around 1960 onwards, residential buildings were built on and around the former barracks and individual businesses were set up. The former airfield has long been used again for agriculture. The former barracks were converted into rental apartments, which are still used in this way today. The buildings are in contemporary good condition. What is special about the barracks ensemble is its almost unchanged condition since its creation, which resulted from the following circumstances:

After the Second World War, the airfield was initially located directly on the border between the British and Soviet occupation zones , and later the inner-German border . Therefore, it was not used as a military facility.

In 1975 the campsite was built on the Loosteich and is owned by the municipality of Mariental.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Erik Beyen: Camping site: Real alternative to a hotel. In: Wolfsburger Nachrichten. Friday Packet for March 17, 2020.

Coordinates: 52 ° 17 ′ 24 ″  N , 10 ° 59 ′ 44 ″  E