Location: Western Germany
Documentation date: Autumn of 2020
This locally still well known military base was built by the Germans during World War II, serving as a munition depot and thereby contributing to the construction of the Siegfried Line (“Westwall”). After the war ended British and Belgian troops were stationed here until 1992. The base was the distributor for all packages and letters that were sent to Belgian camps in Germany.
After almost 30 years of abandonment the buildings are obviously in a very advanced state of decay, a lot of vandalism also took place and some buildings burned at least partially down. Sadly the roof of the former church collapsed in the late 2000s.
There are numerous advocates that want for the 38 hectare area to be protected and in some form maintained, because of the diverse amount of graffiti art that is splattered on most walls.
The site was bought by an investor several years ago, who was open to the idea of saving at least some of the graffitis and to integrate them into the future construction plans.
But then the city council decided after all it wanted to built an industrial district on the property themselves, beginning a still ongoing legal dispute over the terrain.
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