Brand Forest Military Training Area
| Brand Forest Military Training Area | |
|---|---|
| Standortübungsplatz Brander Wald zwischen Brand und Münsterbusch | |
An M47 Patton tank, that is still present in the area | |
Location in the Aachen region, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | |
| Location | Aachen (Brand), Stolberg (Münsterbusch), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
| Coordinates | 50°48′11″N 6°07′16″E / 50.803°N 6.121°E |
| Area | 224.9 ha |
| Designation | Military training area; parts are Natura 2000 / Fauna‑Flora-Habitat site |
| Established | 1937 (as military training area) |
| Governing body | Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) |
Brand Forest Military Training Area (German: Standortübungsplatz Brander Wald zwischen Brand und Münsterbusch) is a 224.9 hectare military training ground located between the Brand district of Aachen and Münsterbusch in Stolberg, North Rhine‑Westphalia, Germany.[1] It serves as training ground for the Bundeswehr, the German Red Cross, the THW, and the Feuerwehr.[2]
The public is permitted to enter the ground except during the week from 7 am to 5 pm.[2] Many walking and biking paths can be found throughout the area.[3] [4] [5]
Nature reserve
Large parts of the training area lie within the Brander Wald and Münsterbusch nature reserves and are designated as a protected Fauna‑Flora-Habitat (FFH) region.[6][7]
History
Historically, the site bears remnants of the Siegfried Line (Westwall) fortifications[8]. Concrete Dragon's teeth tank obstacles from 1938, twelve ruined bunkers, and shooting ranges dating back to its establishment in 1937 are still visible.[9][10]
After World War II the training grounds continued being used by both the Belgian Armed Forces and the Bundeswehr up to this day. Most notably, three M47 Patton tanks and one M41 Walker Bulldog tank remain on the grounds and serve as popular photography spots.[11][12]
The eastern section of the area is also archaeologically significant, with traces of Roman-era mining (pingen), and is protected as a monument.
References
- ^ "Standortübungsplatz Brander Wald zwischen Brand und Münsterbusch | Objektansicht". www.kuladig.de (in German). Archived from the original on 2025-05-12. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
- ^ a b "Militär-Areal in NRW: Versteckte Attraktion kennt kaum jemand". www.ruhr24.de (in German). 2025-08-01. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
- ^ "Tank wrecks in Brander Forest - Cycle Routes and Map". komoot. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
- ^ Förster, Leo (2013). Brander Heide [Brander heath] (in German) (24 ed.). Aachen. pp. 7–45.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Förster, Leo; Schümmer, Hermann (2012). Der Brander Wald [The Brander Forest] (in German) (23 ed.). Aachen. pp. 7–45.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Naturschutzgebiete und Nationalpark Eifel in NRW - Fachinformation - Gebietslisten - Naturschutzgebiete gesamt - NSG Brander Wald". nsg.naturschutzinformationen.nrw.de. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
- ^ "Naturschutzgebiete und Nationalpark Eifel in NRW - Fachinformation - Gebietslisten - Naturschutzgebiete gesamt - NSG Muensterbusch zwischen Hamm und Haumuehle". nsg.naturschutzinformationen.nrw.de. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
- ^ Stadtwald, WestwallRevierweg52074 Aachen-Aachener. "Westwall". charlie.aachen-tourismus.de. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Warum mitten in einem Wald in NRW alte Panzer stehen". www.24rhein.de (in German). 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
- ^ "Westwall - Remains Bunker - Aachen - TracesOfWar.com". www.tracesofwar.com. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
- ^ "Kriegspanzer im Wald: Dieser Lost Place bei Aachen wurde schon von den Nazis genutzt". t-online – Aachen (in German). 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
- ^ "The Tank Cemetery Aachen | Urbex Germany". 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2025-11-15.