Flak Kaserne Ludwigsburg.

Flak Kaserne in Ludwigsburg-Oßweil is a former casern of the german Flak regiment 25 and was the host of the US Military for many years.

The commencement of construction took place at the end of 1935 and lasted up until spring 1937 when the first soldiers and officers of the Flak regiment 25 on that approx.19 hectare large area moved in.

At first several houses and a temporary barracks yard was built for the soldiers. Another elegant officer’s casino was built in 1938.

The roofing ceremony took place on September 12, 1936 in presence of Col. Kolb (commander of the Flak regiment 25); Col. Heilingbrunner (citizen of Ludwigsburg) and at that time Mayor Dr. Karl Frank and several other guests. During the celebration military aircraft flew over the barracks.

Many cultural events – like theatre such as vaudeville shows – were offered to entertain the soldiers of the brigade. Zarah Leander and

Ilse Werner were entertaining the soldiers in the gymnasium (due to the monument protection this building will not be demolished).

French and american troops took over Ludwigsburg in April 1945. The commander of the casern handed over this area to the allied forces. After a few disputes at the beginning between the french and the americans the french left the city. The control of the city had from now on CPT (later Maj.) John Lindsay as the chief of the new american military government.

-1945-1948: Flak-Kaserne is used by the americans as internment camp for former Nazis

- 1948-1950: Refugee camp for expellees

-1950-1991: Home of the 4th Transportation Battalion

-1991-2007: Area get in the possession of the Federal Republic of Germany

-2007-2009: Disposition to the city of Ludwigsburg, beginning of the land development of the area in August 2007

The barracks was used as an internment camp by the americans. It was called “The Camp I.C.74” and it was one of the largest US Army Nazi camps. After 1948 the barracks was a refugee camp for expellees. Some of the inmates were August Wilhelm from Prussia, Richard Walther Darré

and John Ludwig (Lutz) Graf Scherin von Krosigk.

The casern was handed over to the US Army Headquarters. After renovation of Flak Kaserne a transport battalion moved in and stayed until 1991. The last soldiers left the casern with the beginning of the gulf war.

The casern was abandoned since 1991. After deactivation of the soldiers the area had to be renovated, because the ground was contaminated with gasoline.

Later on the casern were many times damaged by troublemakers. Windows were broken, interior decoration was destroyed. The area was overgrown by plants. Part of this area was used as a compound site for truck camps or as a drill ground for the local police.

For many years the break down of the buildings were planned to make new space for family houses. This was not easy, because many buildings and the old trees were under monument conversation. In addition, the government asked for an overpriced amount for this area. Therefore the city had no other choice to wait and use the money for the time being for other important projects.

The city of Ludwigsburg is since May 4,2007 the owner of the former Flak Kaserne area. After many proceedings the contract was signed with the Federal Agency for Real Estate (BImA)
The new development area “Hartenecker Höhe” will be build on this area. The purchasing price of this area was 8.25 Million Euro (approx. 10 Mio. $). This narrow 18 hectare area should offer the best requirements for a manifold high class accommodation service.

1600 people will find on Hartenecker Höhe – in the near future – new living spaces. Row houses, double houses and one family houses will be build in the coming years on this area. But first of all the contaminated soils like poison, oil and asbestos has to be removed. Demolition work has started on August 13, 2007 and with this the conversation of living spaces has begun.

The allotment of this area started in autumn 2008. According to the Lord Mayor of Ludwigsburg Spec the first residents will move in at the end of 2009.

With a few exceptions almost all of the buildings were demolished. Requirement of the monument conservation is to keep at least 300 of the 600 trees and not to break down the gymnasium, the old casino and the guard shack and a part of the stone wall. Also the memorial plaque for the fallen soldiers of the 25 Flak regiment and the memorial plaque for the 50th existence of Flak Kaserne from the year 1984 will be kept.

On November 18, 2008 was announced that Mark Anders, owner of the bakery Anders will buy the guard shack. He wanted to renovate this building and open his 6th bakery and a café in this shack. To bad Mark Anders resigned from this plan according to the city of Ludwigsburg. The future of this guard shack is unknown so far.

The officer's casino (built in 1938) is hosting a dining hall with stucco ceiling, wall planking, and a chimney room with fancy work. This place is offering 3500 square meter useable area. It is planned to build this casino into a housing development. A gastronomy service is planned also.

The old gymnasium on the area of the former Flak Kaserne should be turned in to a children- and family center. In the near future children will run around where soldiers used to do their workout. Therefore children day-care-center will be build in this monument conservation building as a house-into a house. The hall will stay with the outside cover, including the roof construction. In the inside of this hall a second building as a children- and family center will be build in. With this plan the whole inside area of the gymnasium can be used. A third of this area should be used as a roofed free spaced area, so children can play outside even there is bad weather.

To bring more daylight in the inside of the gymnasium a part of the roof and the wall will be broken open and be glassed in.