Luftwaffenkaserne
One of Germany's largest military bases at around 300 hectares — home to senior Bundeswehr commands, a NATO unit, and a Canadian operational hub.
The Luftwaffenkaserne in Cologne is a closed military installation housing several of the Bundeswehr's senior command authorities, elements of the German Ministry of Defence's air transport fleet, and various other military and civilian agencies. At roughly 300 hectares with more than 200 buildings, it ranks among the largest military bases in Germany.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Bundeswehr base (Air Force)
- Location
- Cologne districts of Grengel, Wahnheide and Lind; Porz borough
- Size
- approx. 300 hectares, 200+ buildings — one of Germany's largest bases
- Origins
- first structures from 1870; military use dates to the early 19th century
- Users
- Bundeswehr, NATO Multinational MRTT Unit, Canadian Armed Forces
- Access
- direct connection to Autobahn 59 and the military section of Cologne Bonn Airport
- Notable feature
- a public military cemetery forms an enclave within the restricted zone
Inside the restricted military zone of the air force base lies a public city cemetery – a civilian enclave within the secured grounds, including the graves of two naval soldiers who were executed on the base's own shooting range in 1917 following a sailors' mutiny.
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
Location and Connections
The grounds span three districts in southern Cologne. Autobahn 59 puts the Ministry of Defence headquarters on Bonn's Hardthöhe just minutes away. The adjacent military section of Cologne Bonn Airport — home to the Ministry of Defence's air transport wing — is directly connected to the base.
Prussian Artillery Roots
The site has been in military use since the early 19th century. As part of the artillery reforms pursued by Prince Augustus of Prussia after the Napoleonic Wars, new training grounds were established near garrison towns. In 1816 the 7th Royal Prussian Artillery Brigade was formed in Cologne, and from 1817 the municipality of Wahn provided land in the Wahner Heide for exercises. The first timber-framed barracks buildings followed in 1870, with stone structures added around 1900.
From Training Ground to Air Base
In 1913 an aircraft landed here for the first time, conducting artillery spotting. In 1939 the Wehrmacht developed a full airfield on the site — the direct predecessor of today's Cologne Bonn Airport. A first aircraft had landed for artillery observation as early as 1913, marking the location's early aviation significance.
After 1945
American troops occupied "Camp Wahn" on 11 April 1945 and established a transit camp for around 15,000 forced labourers from Eastern Europe. The British took over in June 1945, and from October 1949 the British High Commission ran its offices here with 560 staff. The Bundeswehr's air force assumed control of the military airfield on 18 July 1957.
Current Use
Beyond the Bundeswehr, the base serves international partners. It hosts a Forward Operating Base of NATO's Multinational MRTT Unit and, since July 2012, the Canadian Operational Support Hub (Europe). In August 2024 the base was temporarily locked down after a hole was found in the security fence amid concerns of a potential attack on the water supply; laboratory tests found no contamination and the all-clear was given.
Points of Interest
Many of the base's original structures survive and several are listed as historic monuments. The military cemetery within the restricted zone holds soldiers killed in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71 and the First World War, as well as naval ratings Max Reichpietsch and Albin Köbis — court-martialled and executed by firing squad at the Wahn shooting range on 5 September 1917.
Timeline
- 18167th Royal Prussian Artillery Brigade established in Cologne
- 1870First timber-framed buildings for soldiers erected on the barracks grounds
- 1913First aircraft lands on the training grounds for artillery observation
- 1939Wehrmacht establishes an air base on the military training area
- 11. April 1945US forces occupy Camp Wahn, set up transit camp for ~15,000 forced labourers
- 15. Juni 1945Military camp handed over to British forces
- Oktober 1949British High Commission moves to the site with 560 staff
- 18. Juli 1957Military section of the airport transferred to the West German Air Force
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
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Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-26