With its rich history, Brandenburg is a real hotspot for lost places in Germany. Some of the most fascinating and mysterious abandoned places are hidden here – often just a stone’s throw from Berlin. Not far from the vibrant city, you will not only find fairytale natural gems, but also an abandoned sanatorium that served as the backdrop for “The Pianist” and other award-winning films. However, it is not just old hospitals, but entire towns that are now considered impressive relics of times gone by. Probably the most significant is just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the big city: a place that was erased from maps in the GDR and was considered the largest Soviet military station outside the USSR – known as “Little Moscow”. Secret for decades, it bore the name “The Forbidden City”.
The history of the “Forbidden City”
Just 40 minutes south of Berlin, near the current BER airport, lies the former military town of Wünsdorf-Waldstadt – an area of 24,000 hectares. Parts of it are still inhabited today, others are slowly falling into disrepair and are reminiscent of a bygone era. In GDR times, Wünsdorf-Waldstadt was the largest Soviet military base outside the USSR – but it was not publicly known or accessible.
Around 60,000 soldiers and their families lived here, isolated from the rest of the GDR. The site was strictly off-limits to East German civilians. The place was completely missing from maps – hence the name “The Forbidden City”. However, forbidden did not mean lifeless: Wünsdorf-Waldstadt was a self-contained world with its own infrastructure – from schools and supermarkets to a direct train connection to Moscow. So it’s no wonder that the town was also known as “Little Moscow”.
The city is a symbol of Germany’s military past and the Cold War – a closed-off place, once the military heart of Soviet power in Europe, today a relic between decay and a new beginning. After the Second World War, the Red Army took over the site on April 20, 1945 without a fight. Wünsdorf-Waldstadt became the command center of the Soviet troops in East Germany and the headquarters of the 16th Soviet Air Force. The last Russian soldiers did not leave until 1994 – but they left behind piles of garbage, contaminated sites and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition.
The use of the “Forbidden City” today
Today, Wünsdorf is a strange mixture of ruins, decaying buildings, overgrown areas – and a few newly used areas such as residential buildings or refugee accommodation. The place still has a post-apocalyptic feel, as if history continues to whisper while nature slowly regains control.
For those interested in the military and history, Wünsdorf offers the opportunity to take part in guided tours of the bunkers (“Maybach I”, “Zeppelin”) and Soviet relics. The town is also a cultural and educational center: Wünsdorf is home to the “Book Town”, with antiquarian bookshops, readings, art exhibitions and cultural events. It is also a place of remembrance and learning – a memorial to the Nazi and Soviet past. There are educational programs for schools, groups and interested visitors who want to learn about the complex history of the site.