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Historische Aufnahme vom Flughafengebäude im Vordergrund steht ein Baum
© Bodo Koch

History

Searching for historical traces at THF

Tempelhof Airport was built between 1936 and 1941 according to plans by Ernst Sagebiel and is considered the largest architectural monument in Europe. It stands for the monumental architecture of the National Socialists, but became a symbol of freedom during the Berlin Airlift of 1948/49.

Tempelhof Airport is unique in Europe. No other airport of this size was built in the 1930s. The integration of hangars, check-in, and administration in one building is unique worldwide. Construction work remained unfinished due to World War II. During the war, parts of the building were used for arms production.

From 1945, the US Air Force used the airport, and later it was also used for civilian purposes. Civilian air traffic officially began on July 9, 1951. The current main hall was built in 1962.

  • Chronicle
    © Bodo Koch

    Chronicle

    From parade ground to international airport - an overview of the history of Tempelhof Airport

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  • Aviation history
    © ullstein bild - A. & E. Frankl

    Aviation history

    The history of aviation in Tempelhof begins with gas balloons at the end of the 19th century. A few decades later, in the 1950s, the airport was already one of the largest in Europe in terms of passenger volume besides London and Paris.

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  • National Socialism
    © ullstein bild

    National Socialism

    The history of the Tempelhof field also provides an insight into the ideology and reality of the National Socialist regime. The premises were a stage for propagandistic mass rallies and a location for the only official Berlin concentration camp. The new airport building with its characteristic features of NS architecture was used for arms production and forced labour during the Second World War.

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  • Symbol of freedom
    © ullstein bild - Czechatz

    Symbol of freedom

    The airlift and flight of many thousand people from the Soviet sector or GDR made Airport Tempelhof an international symbol of defence of freedom during the Cold War.

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  • Historical Archive
    © Tempelhof Projekt

    Historical Archive

    The historical archive of Tempelhof Projekt GmbH is currently located in Building 7C, Level 1. The archive inventory dates from 1935 to 2010 and includes 220 plan drawers, 930 plan rolls and 3,578 file and photo boxes.

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