Inside the mother of all abandoned airports with Nazi and Cold War relics

THIS airport was once a bustling, state of the art transport hub used by top ranking members of the Nazi party.
But for more than a decade, time has stood still at Berlin Tempelhof airport which has now been reclaimed by the locals who live there.
13Tempelhof Airport closed amid controversy in 2008 before being made into an emergency refugee camp in 2015Credit: Reuters13Adolf Hitler arrives at Tempelhof AirportCredit: AP:Associated Press13A burnt out Nazi bunker at the airport takes visitors back in timeCredit: AlamyThe last commercial flight took place in 2008 and the airport has since become a public space used for skateboarding and roller discos.
It is even thought to be one of the largest publicly listed buildings in the world – making it a must see for aviation enthusiasts.
The building of Berlin Tempelhof originated in 1923, before being taken over by Nazi-designers during the war where it is used for their aircraft.
It was also used in West Berlin as drop off points in 1948, as well as used throughout the Cold War thanks to its sheer size.

And local officials believe it measures 303 hectares – dwarfing the likes of microstate Monaco by more than 100.  
But importantly historians believe it now sits as a powerful symbol of the capital’s turbulent past that has often been shrouded by war and division.
The site includes a 72m radar tower – still used by the German army to monitor flight traffic – and a Nazi-era terminal that curves out under a column-free roof.
Meanwhile, rows of empty corridors and decrepit jet planes still haunt the site which what was once a bustling hub of traffic.
13The site spans over 303 hectaresCredit: AP:Associated Press13Tempelhof Airport was developed by the Nazis in the 1930sCredit: Getty Images13Decrepit jet planes still sit on the old runwayCredit: Alamy13The hallways of the Nazi-era airport are steeped in historyCredit: Alamy13The site was used in West Berlin as drop-off points in 1948Credit: Alamy13It was also utilised throughout the Cold War thanks to its sheer sizeCredit: Alamy13Police office entrance at the abandoned airportCredit: Alamy
Since 2010, the airfield, Tempelhofer Feld, has been open to the public as a park and has become immensely popular with local families and adventurers.
During the summer months, the park is covered with barbecues as “barely clothed kite surfers and men flying model planes,” fill the space, as described by one local.
And despite multiple plans proposed to develop the land over the years, the local community have consistently fought to keep the space as it is with tours a regular feature of the abandoned airport.
In 2015 it also became Germany’s largest refugee camp as it housed more than 13,000 migrants during the immigration crisis.
 “No other city would treat itself to such a crown jewel [of open space],” Ingo Gräning of Tempelhof Projekt told The Guardian.
13Since 2010, the airfield, Tempelhofer Feld, has been open to the public as a parkCredit: Alamy13Tours of the site are thought to be available for avid aviation enthusiastsCredit: Alamy13The airport was also used as emergency shelter for Syrian refugees in 2016Credit: AFP or licensors
Story Credit: thesun.co.uk