Kassel Mittelfeld

The airfield, located on the site of the former Kassel-Rothwesten Army Airfield, was closed following the decommissioning of the military base by the German Army (Bundeswehr) in 2007. The primary reason was military restructuring. Subsequently, the entire area was slated for redevelopment into a commercial and industrial park, which made any continued aviation operations impossible.

The site has been completely transformed and is now the 'Gewerbepark Langes Feld', a large industrial and commercial zone located between Kassel, Vellmar, and Fuldatal. The former runways, taxiways, and most airfield infrastructure have been demolished and replaced with logistics centers (including for Volkswagen), warehouses, and corporate buildings. There is no trace of an active airfield at the location today.

The designation 'Kassel Mittelfeld (DE-0522)' refers to a small, likely ultralight (UL), airfield that operated for a short period on the grounds of the much more historically significant Fliegerhorst Rothwesten. The site's main importance stems from its extensive military history:

1. **Luftwaffe Era (1934-1945):** Built in 1934 as a Luftwaffe air base, it was used by various bomber and fighter units during World War II.
2. **US Occupation & Cold War (1945-1972):** After the war, it was taken over by the US Army and renamed Rothwesten Army Airfield. Its most famous historical event occurred here in 1948, when it became the secret location for the 'Konklave von Rothwesten'. In this conclave, German and Allied economic experts planned the pivotal 1948 currency reform and the introduction of the Deutsche Mark, a cornerstone of West Germany's post-war economic miracle ('Wirtschaftswunder').
3. **Bundeswehr Era (1973-2007):** The German Army took control in 1973, establishing it as Heeresfliegerplatz Kassel-Rothwesten, a major base for army helicopters, primarily home to the 2nd Army Aviation Regiment.

The 'Mittelfeld' operation was a minor, civilian, and late-stage use of this historic military facility before its final conversion.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening. The land has been permanently and extensively redeveloped for non-aviation purposes. Furthermore, the Kassel region is served by the modern Kassel Airport (ICAO: EDVK, IATA: KSF), which opened at a different location (Calden) in 2013, making another airport in the immediate vicinity redundant and unfeasible.