Mornin'. A friend of mine was an Army brat, and remembers playing in wartime Bunkers on the base he lived on in Germany in the 70s. They're gone now, but he'd love to know what exactly they were, or were associated with. Google maps link. Google Maps What he can remember: its all changed a lot ! see the end of schlabrendorff weg then pace about 10 to 20 more yards is approx the site. the structure was hexagonal concrete with slopy sides and a small doorway in 1 of the flats.6 threaded steel rods pok...ed up about a foot from each corner. In front of it was grass and behind woods. the grassy paddock had banks and troughs in it so obviously a trench etc. the large blocks to the top were singlies blocks in 1976, the smaller houses at bottom were married quarters. both sets of buildings are as old as the bunker. the only thing is the whole site is now obliterated by this mental (!) hospital. ... schlabrendorff weg is new did not exsist 1976, only a cinder track going to wood garages at the back of 1st singlies block. ... there were other barracks in detmold but smaller. This site is within the camp boundary fence which was Hobart barracks. A brief google points to this being a Luftwaffe base originally? Hobart Barracks Type - Luftwaffe, purpose unclear Original name - Fliegerhorst History - The first unit to be based here were Jagdgeschwader 27 (Fighter Wing) who were equipped with single engine fighters; Messerschmitt Bf 109 e. The date this unit was at Detmold was 12 Novemeber 1940 and January 1941, under the command of Geschwaderkommodore (wing commodore--usually a Major, Oberstleutenant, or Oberst in rank) Major Wolfgang Schellman. This was only unit that utilised Detmold over the war period. Does anybody know more about the layout or buildings on the original wartime site? Cheers, Adam.
I was at Detmold about `82 I dont remember anyone mentioning anything like that.. however I think I know a man who may be able to say. I will try to contact him bear with me.
Be much appreciated if you or anyone else could find anything bern. Seems to be one of those things that's really bugged this mate of mine. Presumably whatever was there was cleared to build the Psychiatric hospital. I might have to dig about regarding that.
He got a mate to photograph one of the surviving structures. Said he remembers it as a bunker, with threaded bars on the top around the edge. Gun emplacement? Found some units that were based there, but still having trouble finding any WW2-German-Occupied information on the defences/structures on site. (A search on IWM collections for 'detmold' brings up some interesting shots of a Toy factory making things from smashed up Planes etc. abandoned there. http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll )
Hi, I was based in Hobart Barracks with 4 Regt AAC between 1984 and 1989. I lived in one the large barrack blocks overlooking the main square. There were many rumours concerning an underground tank park under the main square. There was a strange building on the end of the square that looked possibly like an entrance/ventilation building. I looked into it once but it was flooded and I didnt fancy getting wet feet (puttees could probably hold about two pints each!). I think that the idea of an underground tank park is a bit fanciful especially as the camp was mainly used by the Luftwaffe. Also the building looked a bit more 1970's in origin. Lots of BAOR soldiers told stories about underground hospitals 7 storeys deep full of bodies! I am sure that there is a bit of truth in some of the stories. The barracks and town apparently escaped almost completely unscathed from the war however the airfield was attacked. I heard that there was a strong pre war friendship between a Detmold resident and someone high up in the British Government/royalty - can anyone shed light on that fact? Thanks, Simon
Adam, Is this site any use to you? Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia Regards Tom
