Heeres-Munitionsanstalt und Nebenzeugamt
The Heeres-Munitionsanstalt und Nebenzeugamt complex in Altes Lager is a deserted military area. It began operations in 1890 and was expanded and renovated before the Second World War. During the Cold War, the Red Army used it. Now, the site is abandoned, and nature is taking over.
The first buildings on this land were originally created as a sub-depot for the Berlin-Spandau artillery depot. Starting in 1896, it became an independent artillery depot. This area was used to store ammunition for the nearby firing range and also supported the front during the war.
From 1917, several expansions took place. In the early 1920s, an ammunition dismantling site operated by Berlin-Burger Eisenwerke AG was established here. By the early 1930s, the first storage bunkers were constructed, along with a filling station, which can still be seen today. The site was renamed ‘Chemische Fabrik’ and served as a production facility owned by the army. In the mid-1930s, the area was split; the western section went to the Heeres-Munitionsanstalt, while the eastern section was given to the Heeres-Nebenzeugamt.
Heeres-Munitionsanstalt
The ammunition storage facility included a total of 91 ammunition buildings and sheds, along with an additional 45 ammunition containers. Six structures were designated for administrative and welfare functions. The depot featured a complex track system that allowed for easy transportation access to the warehouses, which were strategically distanced for security purposes. To prevent fire hazards, the Reichsbahn locomotive was prohibited from entering the ammunition depot. Instead, the army utilized their own diesel locomotives for factory transportation.
Secret use
The bunker complex held a hidden secret not mentioned in the official description. In the DDR, the Soviets kept chemical weapons in specially protected locations. When the Germans took over the area, a secure zone was found within the complex. Fourteen bunkers were protected by double barbed wire fences and a high-voltage system. A guard path ran along the fence, with a phone to the officer on duty every 150 meters. I also saw a watchtower. The security area was completely illuminated.
Heeres-Nebenzeugamt
Beside the Munitionsanstalt, there was a Heeres-Nebenzeugamt, a huge site with warehouses. The army kept its gear in this location. This included many small items like dishes and stable tools, along with transport vehicles and field kitchens. Additionally, all the artillery taken from Poland was stored here. In the final years of the war, the Army High Command had an office here that focused on weapons and ammunition. The main areas of work were the ammunition inspection department and the weapons testing office.
Red Army
The ammunition factory and filling plant were running at full capacity until April 19, 1945, just a day before the Red Army’s invasion. Employees were asked to work special shifts and overtime to ensure the front received enough ammunition. Work ceased on April 20, when reports came in about the first tank units nearby. The GSSD later used the location as an artillery ammunition depot. In the 1970s, they added accommodation buildings and vehicle storage areas.
After the Cold War
Both sites closed in 1991 after the iron curtain fell. In 1996, there was a plan to make them a train museum, but it didn’t happen. Now, they are used as a wind turbine park.
