Brandis Airbase

Military Decommissioning. The airbase was closed following the reunification of Germany and the subsequent withdrawal of the Soviet Union's Western Group of Forces. The last Soviet aircraft, MiG-29s of the 968th Fighter Aviation Regiment, departed in April 1992, and the facility was handed over to German authorities, ending its nearly 60-year military history.

The site has been completely redeveloped and repurposed for civilian use. The majority of the former airbase, including large sections of the runway and taxiways, has been transformed into the **Solarpark Waldpolenz**. When construction began in 2007, it was one of the largest thin-film photovoltaic power stations in the world, covering over 200 hectares and symbolizing the transition from military use to renewable energy. Other parts of the sprawling complex are used as an industrial and commercial park, for logistics and storage, and as an automotive testing and driver safety training center which utilizes remaining paved surfaces. The original military infrastructure, such as hardened aircraft shelters (HAS), is still visible, with some being repurposed for storage.

Brandis Airbase has significant military history spanning from the Third Reich through the Cold War.

- **Nazi Era (1934-1945):** Construction began in 1934 as a base for the newly formed Luftwaffe. It was initially known as Fliegerhorst Waldpolenz. During World War II, it was a major bomber base, home to various Kampfgeschwader (Bomber Wings) operating aircraft like the Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 88. Later in the war, it became a crucial site for the German jet program, serving as a base for testing and deploying the world's first operational jet fighter, the Messerschmitt Me 262.

- **Soviet Era (1945-1992):** After the war, the airbase was taken over by the Soviet Air Force and became one of their most important forward operating bases in East Germany (GDR). It was a key installation for the 16th Air Army. Over the decades, it hosted a succession of advanced Soviet aircraft. Initially, it housed piston-engined fighters and bombers, but it was quickly upgraded for jet aircraft. During the Cold War, it was home to various fighter-bomber and reconnaissance regiments flying aircraft such as the MiG-17, Su-7, MiG-23, MiG-27, and ultimately the highly advanced MiG-29 'Fulcrum' fighter jets. Its strategic location made it a critical asset for the Warsaw Pact's military posture opposite NATO.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Brandis Airbase as an airport. The extensive and permanent redevelopment of the site into a massive solar park and industrial area makes any reactivation as an aviation facility logistically and economically unfeasible. The land has been fundamentally repurposed, and much of the critical airport infrastructure, while partially visible, is no longer suitable for aviation operations.