Abandoned & Industrial Photography

by Björn Sahlberg

Soviet Military Base FZ

far out red treads

Former DDR Germany

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A large military compound in former East Germany dating back to the early 1930s. Besides the ever present housing barracks there were theatres, restaurants, sports facilities and – Wikipedia claims – a zoo (!). After World War II the base was used by Soviet troops until the early 90s when it was stripped down and abandoned. Today most of the buildings have been demolished and the plan to completely restore the area to its orginal forest state is ongoing.

In the early 50s acknowledged East German social realist painter Lothar Zitzmann was commissioned to make one of the murals here. So far I have yet to identify it and possibly it's already long gone.

One of the old officers' datjas at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

Welcome! Wall art in the theatre foyer. Very colourful and soft shaped for a piece of military propaganda. October 2013.

Proper Badlamp illuminating The Flag at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

A proper Badlamp illuminating The Flag. October 2013.

Wall art in the library continued at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

Wall art in the library. October 2013.

Wall art in the library continued. Quite possibly acknowledging the 28th (and last) congress of the Communist Party held in 1990. October 2013.

One of the old officers' datjas at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2018.

One of the old officers' datjas. October 2018.

The music building at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2018.

The music building. (Note the G-clef in the window bars.) October 2018.

Obstacle course overcome at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2018.

Obstacle course overcome. October 2018.

Unfinished graffiti at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2018.

Unfinished graffiti. October 2018.

Patched, painted, papered, peeling at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2018.

Patched, painted, papered, peeling. October 2018.

Embedded barrack at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

I have come to appreciate the warm yellow colour used for many of the old Soviet era barracks. October 2013.

Autumn at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

Interesting how it's always autumn at the old Soviet bases. October 2013.

Barrack entrance with corrugated porch deco at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2014.

Barrack entrance with corrugated porch deco. October 2014.

Defence logistics wall deco at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2014.

Defence logistics wall deco. October 2014.

An outdoor display case among the barrack at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2014.

An outdoor display case among the barracks. October 2014.

Vegetation taking no notice of the notice board at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2014.

Vegetation taking no notice of the notice board. October 2014.

The ever present Olympics were present at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

As we have seen before the Olympics were ever present. October 2013.

Only the silhouettes remain at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2014.

Only the silhouettes remain. October 2013.

The Number One badge one the outside wall of a gym at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

The Number One badge one the outside wall of a gym. October 2013.

Spectator's stalls at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

Spectator's stalls. October 2013.

The outdoor pool at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

The outdoor pool. October 2013.

Running in the opposite direction, yet Number One at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

Running in the opposite direction, yet Number One. October 2013.

Olympics oriented wall art inside one of the gyms at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2013.

Olympics oriented wall art inside one of the gyms. October 2013.

Gym wall stencil deco at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2014.

Gym wall stencil deco. October 2014.

Before moving out the Soviet troops stripped the buildings of most things worthwile at Soviet Military Base FZ. Former DDR, Germany. October 2014.

Before moving out the Soviet troops stripped the buildings of most things worthwile. If this was the case with the gym floor I'm not sure, but wouldn't be surprised. October 2014.