Halle (Saale): Nietleben Airfield

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Coordinates	N512929 E0115525 (WGS84) Google Maps
Former East Germany (GDR)	District of Halle
Federal state	Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt)

Map with location of Halle-Nietleben Airfield

Germany during the Cold War

The history of the Cold War airfields: Halle-Nietleben

During the 1920s/1930s

Business owner / Administrator

Flugverkehr Halle A. G., Halle a. S., Verkehrslandeplatz Halle-Nietleben,
Drahtanschrift Flugverkehr Hallesaale.

Transport companies / Airlines

Flugverkehr Halle A. G., Halle a. S.

Situation

Halle Nietleben airfield on a map from the 1920s

Overview

Map of Halle Nietleben airfield, Germany, in 1926

Map of Halle Nietleben airfield in 1926

Aerial photograph with east view

Airfield characteristics at daytime

In the middle of the movement area 2 concentric white circles of 400 m and 50 m diameter. In the 50 m-circle the white inscription "Halle", landing signs are constantly displayed. Windsack on the northwest corner of the hangar. Border marked by white gravel strips and angles.

Airfield characteristics at night

Permanent night lighting not available. Land fires from torches on request at the operator. On the east side of the movement area telephone line; barn and water tower unlit.

Runways

Good sod. Shortest rolling length in north-south direction 800 m.

Hangars

One aircraft hangar 50.0 x 22.0 m. The hangar contains a pulley block with trolley of 1.5 t carrying capacity.

Workshops

Contains filing benches and smaller machines for the repair of engines.

Fuel equipment

For 400 l petrol and benzene, 300 l each always in stock.

First aid in the case of accidents

Medical supplies available. Next doctor in the Nietleben Provincial Hospital (0.5 km distance).

Accommodation of passengers

In the guest and utility room of the aircraft hangar.

During World War II

Use

Military airfield.

Situation

Halle Nietleben Airfield, Germany, in World War II on a map 1944

Halle Nietleben Airfield in World War II on a US map from 1944

Source: McMaster University Library Digital Archive, Lizenz: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 CC BY-NC 2.5 CA

Overview

The airfield in 1930s or 1940s

Source: AMS M841 GSGS 4414, Courtesy Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University

During the Cold War

In the 1940s

History

May 1947
The airfield is not occupied by flying units. The airfield barracks are used by Soviet light artillery and tank units. (Source: CIA)
June 1949
The airfield is unoccupied. The grass covered landing field is intact. All buildings and technical installations are demolished and the debris has not been cleared. (Source: CIA)
June 1949
The airfield and its buildings, except for the former insane asylum and the air signal school, is unoccupied. The landing field has a firm grass cover. About 160-feet strips are plowed at the eastern and northern field borders. Most of the former air force quarters and hangars northwest of the field are demolished, the technical installations are destroyed. (Source: CIA)
September 1949
No aircraft were seen stationed at the airfield but individual biplanes occasionally landed there. The observation of some Soviet Air Force soldiers indicates that the kasernes at the field are occupied by an air force unit. (Source: CIA)
October 1949
Every Thursday, a Soviet U-2 biplane lands at the airfield. Officers and motor vehicles of the Soviet Air Force are observed in Halle.
November 1949
Two-seat courier biplanes with closed cockpit are repeatedly landing at the airfield. No flying unit is stationed there. A small Soviet Air Force detail seems to be quartered in the western section of the airfield kasernes. An unusual large number of Soviet Air Force troops of all ranks are observed in the streets of Halle.

In the 1950s

History

January 1950
The airfield is not occupied by aircraft. A U-2 biplane lands at the field. (Source: CIA)
March 1950
The airfield is apperently exclusively occupied by army units. The small air force units, which recently have been repeatedly reported, were not seen. (Source: CIA)
September 1950
No aircraft are stationed at the field. The landing field is overgrown with weeds, and debris of buildings is scattered about. There are no indications of intended reoccupation of the field. (Source: CIA)

In the 1960s

Use

Airfield of the East German pre-military "Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik" (GST, Sport and Technology Association). Closed at the end of the 1960s.

Overview

1966

Halle (Saale) Nietleben Airfield on a US satellite image from Friday 09 December 1966 - 1: airfield; 2: Soviet barracks (former Maercker-Kaserne, Heeres- und Luftwaffennachrichtenschule). Gimritzer Damm street and Saale river.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey