Travel Guide "Remembrance Connects Region Oder-Warta"

92 93 A me e t i ng and d i scovery space A me e t i ng and d i scovery space The two world wars in the 20 th century led to a surge in innovation in the de- velopment of military aviation. In ad- dition to simple biplanes and airships in the First World War, the Second World War led to development of jet aircraft. Modern airfields were indis- pensable for testing but also for later use of aircraft. After the establishment of a military airfield near Neuhardenberg as of 1934 , it was also utilised for multiple purposes. After testing with rocket engines from 1937 , the site served as a base for fighting units. During the Cold War, both sides de- veloped their respective air forces into important branches of the armed Neuhardenberg Airfield On one of the most important airfields of the GDR, a museum documents the history of the area from the 1930s to the present. forces. Neuhardenberg, now renamed Marxwalde, served as the location of Fighter Wing 8 and Transport Aviation Wing 44 until the fall of the Iron Curtain. The construction of bunkered shelters became necessary for the protection of the fighter planes stationed here. A large maintenance hangar ensured the operation of the GDR ‘s large air- craft squadron. The history of the former military airfield is documented in the local museum. Between April and October, the technology collection can be visited on its own or as part of guided tours. Address: Oderbruchstraße 24 a 15320 Neuhardenberg, Deutschland www.flugplatzmuseumneuhardenberg. de Open: April-October GPS : 52 ° 36 ‘ 22 . 4 “N 14 ° 13 ‘ 32 . 2 “E Neuhardenberg Airfield i With a length of 866 kilometres, the Oder River is the fifth largest river in Germany and has always been an important transport and trade route. However, the first quay wall in Groß Neuendorf was not built until 1909 . In 1911 , the connection to the Oderbruch railway was established, followed by loading cranes and a loading tower, until the port was destroyed in 1945 . In the GDR , this port location de- veloped into an important and fully automated transhipment centre (wa- ter/rail/road), among other things for grain and precast concrete parts. After German reunification, this histo- ric port complex was rediscovered and use of it for tourism began in 2003 . Gross Neuendorf Cultural Port Even though the Oder River has lost its importance as a traffic artery, numerous preserved industrial complexes still remind us of this time. Under the leadership of the Berlin architect Jens Plate, work began on renovation of the historic buildings, which are now known as the „Kultur- hafen Groß Neuendorf“ (Gross Neu- endorf Cultural Port) memorial com- plex. There are holiday flats in the historic loading tower, and a café is open to visitors. The former engine house now houses a hotel and restaurant. There is further accommodation in historic railway carriages and in Ger- many‘s easternmost theatre. Charter trips on the Oder River are offered from the jetty, and an agricultural museum, an art gallery, a skating rink, and a bicycle hire service add to the offerings. Address: Hafenstraße 1 A 15324 Letschin, Deutschland www.verladeturm.de Open: January-December GPS : 52 ° 42 ‘ 03 . 5 “N 14 ° 24 ‘ 40 . 7 “E Gross Neuendorf Cultural Port i