Tempelhof Airport

Tempelhof Airport was a major airport located in the Borough of Tempelhof-Schöneberg of Berlin, Germany, near the Columbiahalle and the Deutsche Oper Berlin. The airport was a significant hub for Lufthansa, British European Airways, and Pan American World Airways, and played a crucial role in the Berlin Airlift during the Cold War, with Royal Air Force and United States Air Force planes landing and taking off from the airport. The airport's history is closely tied to that of Berlin, with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party using the airport for Luftwaffe operations, and later, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin discussing the airport's fate at the Potsdam Conference.

● History

The history of Tempelhof Airport dates back to the early 20th century, when it was used as a parachute testing site by Otto Lilienthal and Octave Chanute. The airport was later used by the German Empire and the Weimar Republic for military aviation, with Manfred von Richthofen and Hermann Göring flying from the airport. During World War II, the airport was used by the Luftwaffe and was a key target for the Allies, with Bomber Command and the United States Army Air Forces conducting bombing raids on the airport. After the war, the airport was used by the Soviet Union and the Western Allies for military transport, with Douglas C-47 Skytrain and C-54 Skymaster planes flying in and out of the airport. The airport also played a significant role in the Berlin Blockade, with Ernst Reuter and Lucius D. Clay working to keep the airport open, and Andréi Gromyko and Vyacheslav Molotov trying to close it.

● Architecture

The architecture of Tempelhof Airport is notable for its unique terminal building, designed by Albert Speer and Ernst Sagebiel in the Nazi architecture style. The building features a large hangar and a control tower, and was intended to be a symbol of Nazi Germany's power and engineering prowess. The airport's design was influenced by the Bauhaus movement, with Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe contributing to the design. The airport's architecture has been praised by Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier, and has been the subject of study by architects and urban planners around the world, including Rem Koolhaas and Zaha Hadid.

● Operations

Tempelhof Airport was a major hub for airlines such as Lufthansa, British European Airways, and Pan American World Airways, with Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 planes flying in and out of the airport. The airport was also used by charter airlines such as Condor Flugdienst and LTU International, and was a popular destination for tourists and business travelers visiting Berlin. The airport was served by public transportation, including the Berlin U-Bahn and Berlin S-Bahn, with trains running to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Berlin Ostbahnhof. The airport was also connected to the Autobahn system, with highways leading to Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt.

● Closure

Tempelhof Airport was closed on October 30, 2008, due to a referendum in which the citizens of Berlin voted to close the airport. The closure was supported by Klaus Wowereit and Gregor Gysi, and was opposed by Angela Merkel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The airport's closure was also influenced by the European Union's noise pollution regulations, which made it difficult for the airport to operate. The airport's closure led to the relocation of airlines and aviation companies to Berlin Brandenburg Airport and Berlin Tegel Airport, with Lufthansa and Air Berlin moving their operations to the new airports.

● Legacy

The legacy of Tempelhof Airport is still felt in Berlin today, with the airport's terminal building and hangar being used for events and exhibitions. The airport has been the subject of documentaries and films, including Wings of Desire and Good Bye Lenin!, and has been referenced in music and literature by artists such as David Bowie and Christoph Hein. The airport's history and architecture have also been recognized by UNESCO, with the airport being designated as a World Heritage Site in 2008, along with other Berlin landmarks such as the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate. The airport's legacy continues to be felt in the aviation industry, with airlines and airports around the world studying the airport's operations and architecture, including Heathrow Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport. Category:Airports in Germany