Bardenitz Heliport

Military Conversion / Withdrawal of Foreign Troops. The heliport was a military installation operated by the Soviet Army. It was closed and abandoned following the reunification of Germany and the subsequent withdrawal of all Russian forces (the Western Group of Troops) from the country, which was completed in 1994. The site had no civilian purpose and was therefore decommissioned.

The former heliport site has been completely demilitarized and is now part of a large, protected nature reserve. It is located within the 'Jüterboger Wildnis' (Jüterbog Wilderness), an area managed by the Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg (Brandenburg Natural Landscapes Foundation). The foundation allows former military training areas to be reclaimed by nature, creating unique wilderness habitats. The concrete landing pads and access roads are still visible on satellite imagery but are slowly being overgrown by vegetation. The area is valued for its biodiversity and is not used for any industrial, commercial, or aviation purposes.

Bardenitz Heliport was a Soviet military forward helicopter landing site active throughout much of the Cold War. Its primary role was to support the massive Jüterbog-Altes Lager military training area (Truppenübungsplatz), one of the largest and most important Soviet training grounds in East Germany. The heliport was used by the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSFG) for a variety of operations, including:
- Transport of troops and equipment using Mi-8 helicopters.
- Combat and attack helicopter training exercises, likely involving Mi-24 'Hind' gunships.
- Tactical reconnaissance and logistical support for the extensive ground force exercises conducted in the area.
It was a key piece of the vast Soviet military infrastructure in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), positioned strategically during the Cold War.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the Bardenitz Heliport. Its remote location, lack of any remaining infrastructure, and its current legal status as a protected wilderness and nature reserve make any future aviation use both impractical and legally impossible. The focus for the site is exclusively on nature conservation and ecological succession.