Rangsdorf Travel Guide

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I was reading a book and it made mention of Rangsdorf as the airport which Claus von Stauffenberg returned to after the failed attempt to assassinate Hitler. I decided I must try and find out more, though information was limited. I caught a train out to Rangsdorf. There are a couple an hour either from Alexanderplatz or Potsdamerplatz. My first impression on arrival were of an upmarket town with nice houses, shops and being clean and tidy. There are plenty of places to find something to eat and drink close to the station. The main place I wanted to visit was of course the disused airfield. As soon as I reached the main gate to the airfield and found it was locked I realised it could be a wasted trip. I followed the boundary of the high fence looking for a gap but could not find one. I am not advocating you should do the same as me and I could not wait until the open day at the airfield in September. To add to my problems a cloudburst and thunderstorm took place. My boots failed with all the rain and I ended up with wet feet plus my jeans were wet and muddy. Being slightly damp and just about to give up I found a gate that appeared locked but it was not. I was in and able to take photos of the buildings. I felt pleased with myself and was just about to look at some other buildings when I spotted a security guard, so I thought I better beat a hasty retreat and left the way I had come in. The wet feet and jeans were worth it. The airfield is also the place where Bücker sports aircraft were built before the second world war. After the war the soviets took over the airfield and repaired engines and flew helicopters from the airfield. Since then the airfield has been abandoned and the buildings left to nature.