Rangsdorf Acrobatic Flight School
The Rangsdorf airfield began life in the 1930s as a "sports" flight school and an aircraft manufacturing facility for the airplane manufacturer known as Bücker. The airfield was known for daring and spectacular air shows where brave pilots, including Heinz Rühmann pushed their machines to the limits. During WW2 the site remained the manufacturing centre for Bücker but also hosted the German Air Force. In 1945 the Red Army took over the facility, and used to maintain and repair their aircraft until 1994. Today, much of the site remains in a state of decay, with most reminders of its history removed, decayed or painted over by graffiti artists. One or two reminders of the legacies of the past remain but they must be sought out amongst the vast sprawling hangars, halls, corridors and bunkers.
Many large manufacturing halls exist - their equipment long gone - removed by scrappers and scavengers only to leave the dust and debris behind.
Although wider vistas of the halls are at first tempting there are a lot of smaller details which are interesting. The German photographers call these details "Motives" for which I believe the English translation is "Motif". I quite prefer the German "Motive" because is reminds me of "emotive" which means to arouse a feeling - and these details can certainly do that. You are left with little details from which your mind tries to extrapolate a bigger picture of life at Rangsdorf in former times.
It seems that none of the Lost Places in Brandenberg would be complete without a theatre or a empty pool. There's no pool here (although there is a sports pavilion) but there is a theatre with one solitary seat from which to watch the presentation...
As holes in the roof lead to dampness penetrating the concrete and thick carpets of moss grow on the floors, nature finds a foothold in reclaiming the buildings for itself and shards of light from broken windows provide energy to sustain new life amongst the ruins.
Finally, the place plays host to ravers looking for a place to party and graffiti artists looking for a blank canvass on which to practice their arts before the site is secured by the government to preserve what remains of the history and a veritable treasure trove for photographers.