Then and Now...and some airplanes

JimH · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2015 8:50 pm

We recently went on a crew trip to Europe. Armed with websites like Thirdreichruins and a few others I set out to find some then and now scenes around Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Still working on a few shots. Not much has changed, and a lot of places were restored to their former glory.

Jim

Berlin Olympic Stadium 1936 and now

The siege of Saint Cyril Church after the assassination of Heydrich in Prague

Prague Square during the final days of the war

St Charles Bridge on the occasion of Heydrich's funeral procession in Prague

Amon Goeth's Villa in Krakow, the Camp is literally in the backyard

The ruins of the Anholter Banhoff just outside our hotel in Berlin

Herman Goering getting married at the Berlin Cathedral

The Hindenburg over flying the 36 Olympic Games

Berlin in the heyday

Hitler leaving the Luftwaffe Building

JimH · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2015 9:06 pm

Starting in Berlin we visited the Technical Museum. This is one of the best Museums in Berlin. The entire scope of transportation is covered, not just airplanes.

He 162

Ju 88 and Me 109

Right wing from Lancaster JA914, lost during a raid on Berlin in 1943

Me 110

V-1, which made its way to England after the war. It was given to the Museum with a note..."return to sender", thought that was kinda funny

Stuka...would make a great project

JimH · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2015 9:28 pm

Gatow...this was a training base during the late 30's and an RAF base post war...the hangars are original. There is a lot going on here...the FW 190 is coming along as well as a D-9 fuselage in a jig.

109/Hispano

FW being rebuilt

Komet

Replica DR1

DVII Replica

dweller · **Joined:** Sun Dec 15, 2013 2:47 pm **Posts:** 21

Very interesting, thanks for posting.

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:02 am

Thanks Jim - some of the then-and-now images were a bit chilling to see, especially the surviving Third Reich architecture. Is the Luftwaffe building still being used by the German air force?

(And OK, I'll admit I noticed that Goering and his wife have the same dress size... :wink:

)

JimH · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:16 am

Next stop was Krakow...another interesting aviation museum. Lots of Cold war hardware on display. The real gems are airplanes that were part of the prewar German Aviation Museum in Berlin. Krakow is also home to Oskar Schindler's factory.

Jim

Me 109

Really nice Spit

Me 209...this deserves better treatment...it held the speed record until Daryl Greenamyer beat it in his Bearcat

P-39 instructional airframe...the wing, horizontal and vertical stab were on display

Fw 190 power unit on display, seems to be quite a few of these around

Fritz Wendel's office Me 209

Camel...built in 1918 it has atleast 11 confirmed victories before being downed behind German lines...worth a google history

Ernst Udet's Curtiss Hawk

AG pilot · **Joined:** Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:13 am **Posts:** 553

Fabulous photos! Thanks so much for sharing with us.

Pathfinder · **Joined:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 587

I'm not a PC-weenie....but curious about the swastikas displayed on the a/c in the Berlin museum. Isn't there a law? Or does that only apply to privately owned/operated warbirds and reproductions?

JohnB · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2015 9:41 am

Pathfinder wrote:

I'm not a PC-weenie....but curious about the swastikas displayed on the a/c in the Berlin museum. Isn't there a law? Or does that only apply to privately owned/operated warbirds and reproductions?

I noticed that too, I believe there is an exception on displaying it for historic displays.
I too am bit surprised in a world where Chinese made plastic kits (aimed at adults, not the inexpensive beginner kits for kids) don't include them.
Glad to see the museums haven't gone too PC....

DoraNineFan · **Joined:** Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:37 pm **Posts:** 673

Pathfinder wrote:

I'm not a PC-weenie....but curious about the swastikas displayed on the a/c in the Berlin museum. Isn't there a law? Or does that only apply to privately owned/operated warbirds and reproductions?

I believe the law allows display for educational purposes, i.e. museums.

Rajay · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2015 9:45 am

JimH wrote:

Starting in Berlin we visited the Technical Museum. This is one of the best Museums in Berlin. The entire scope of transportation is covered, not just airplanes.

V-1, which made its way to England after the war. It was given to the Museum with a note..."return to sender", thought that was kinda funny

"Kinda?" I think that's very FUNNY!

Thanks for a unique and very interesting thread...

JimH · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2015 11:35 am

Glad you guys like them! @Chris...here are a couple of Goering's uniforms from Gatow...before and after he started eating a lot

few more from Gatow
D-9

V-2 rail support

V-1 Launch Rail

Another view of the D-9

JimH · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2015 11:45 am

Not really aviation related but still a major bit of WWII history. Oskar Schindler's factory in Krakow.

Interesting floor tile in the factory

Schindler's desk

Krakow Roland DVI

Antique Taube Replica...

need a Mig?

some of the dozens of vintage engines on display

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:05 pm

wow, incredible photos! thanks. I love the Then and Now format. I recently saw a bunch of Then and Now photos from D Day but I cant seem to locate them now. Very interesting Schindler related photos as well. thanks again

JimH · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:59 pm

Some more then and now...not really airplane related. I am pretty sure the Luftwaffe building is now being used as Finance Offices. Very few of the Nazi era buildings survived. We did a trip to Germany 10 years ago and the tone has changed. Back then it was hard to find a tour guide that would talk about the war. Today, sites are well marked and history is presented as it was, not glorified, not denied, and professionally presented. The Fuhrerbunker, for example, was paved over and turned in to a parking lot for an apartment complex built on the site of the Reich Chancellery. Ten years ago you had to know where to go, today there is a large weather proof sign marking the spot with a brief history of events from 70 years ago.

Steve and Elaine reading the history board of the Fuhrerbunker. I apologize for the fuzzy photo...it was really dark

Hitler, in the 3rd story window of the Prague Palace

The Jewish Ghetto in Krakow after it was cleansed...luggage and personal items strewn everywhere

Parade through the Brandenburg Gate

Fritz Schilgen lights the Olympic Urn in 1936

Warbird Information Exchange

Then and Now...and some airplanes

Who is online