TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Staff Building 1 Fliegerhorst Twente

The Luftwaffe built Fliegerhorst Twente with the starting point that it wouldn’t stand out from the air. The runways were painted green and farming was done on the adjacent green.

The Prins Bernhardpark is, as well as Het Zuidkamp, an area with several different living quarters like an officer mess, accommodations, garages and more. The design was deliberately made spacious. The buildings were standardised designed and had to continue as farms from Twente. The architecture was German, and not from Twente, but seen from air this wouldn’t bother. The Luftwaffe preferred bright red bricks with walls from 55 centimetre thick, who were thought to be splinter repulsive. Sometimes the local architecture was used, like an saddle roof or a ‘top façade’ (as seen on Het Zuidkamp). The portholes in front of the windows were painted green/red/white (four triangles) to let it look more like real farms. Actually were the portholes made from steel, to protect the windows against splinters.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

  • Text: Alex Ossel
  • Photos: Thijmen van Reijsen