I’d take a good gander to guess that when the 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin, no one would have guessed that some 20 years later the town of Dallgow-Döberitz would only half exist.
Of course I mention this for a reason, don’t I always?
Where to start? I guess at the beginning. But, it’s not as long a history as you might think, yet it sure is an interesting one.
Dallgow-Döberitz is found right on the border with the big city of Berlin in the federal state of Brandenburg. And it seemed like just the right place to put an Olympic Village. What, all those international athletes need someplace to stay, don’t they?
Just so you know, there are guided tours through some of the 140 buildings of the village; which is open from the beginning of April until the end of October.
Sure, that’s kind of interesting. But what if I told you this was the old stomping grounds of World War I flying Ace, the Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen? Would you find it MORE interesting?
I know I would.
The Imperial German Army set up a military camp here back in the 1890’s. Yes, I’m award that this was before the advent of the airplane. But, when aircraft first started to make its appearance the German Reichswehr (the army of the Weimar Republic) built an airfield to train new pilots. That’s how von Richthofen (and those like him) came to these parts to create the German Air Force.
There’s an obelisk at the former military camp dedicated to Kaiser Wilhelm who created it all. It’s now a nature park area with bison, horses, and deer.
I haven’t explained how half the town no longer exists yet, but I’m getting there.
You have to go to the end of World War II for that. The area was under Soviet control; and once a border crossing area between East Germany and West Berlin.
But, in the late 1950’s the Soviets decided to flatten the entire village of Döberitz to make way for agricultural areas. Not much remains of the town — just some old streets and stuff.
Don’t get too excited, there’s no easy way to get to the area so scratch that off your list of sightseeing places. Just don’t go crossing the whole town of Dallgow-Döberitz off of it. ;-)
